A 300-level student at a private tertiary institution in Abeokuta, Ogun State, simply identified as Ajoke, has reportedly committed suicide. Our correspondent gathered that Ajoke, a student of Basic Medical Science at Havarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Abeokuta, on Monday evening, drank poisonous substance, suspected to be Sniper. Her body was discovered in her hostel room located off-campus. Sources at the college revealed that the deceased, who had been battling depression, must have committed suicide over an “unwanted pregnancy.” Another account indicated that the her condition worsened after she found out that her course not been accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. “For more than four months now, she (deceased) had been depressed because of the fact that the course she was studying was not accredited. She used to complain because she claimed her parents used all the money they had to send her to the school. “Things now got worse when she discovered she was pregnant and she could not even have a certificate for the course she had done for years,” the source said. But, the provost of the institution, Dr. Ismail Oyetunji, said the circumstances surrounding the death of the student happened outside the school’s premises. The provost added that the deceased’s parents came to the school last week to pack her belongings after discovering she was pregnant. He said, “A 300-level nursing student was reported to me this morning by our dean of students affair to have committed suicide. She was impregnated by her boyfriend. Her parent got to know and came last week to pack her belongings from the school. “She came back to Abeokuta and thereafter decided to commit suicide. She was rushed to Hope Hospital by her boyfriend in the Adigbe area of Abeokuta where she eventually died. “Everything happened outside the college premises. However, the management of the college sympathises with the parent and relatives of the deceased. We sincerely pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear.” When asked if the suicide is connected to the non-accreditation of the nursing programme offered in the institution, the provost insisted that the student committed suicide because of the pregnancy. “No no, it has nothing to do with that. She got pregnant and her parent was aware. They came and packed her belongings in Abeokuta because of that. It happened somewhere outside the school.”

  The 36 State Chairmen of the Labour Party including FCT, have debunked speculations that they were plotting to suspend the party leader and Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi.   They described the speculation as the handiwork of detractors. The state chairmen said this during a solidarity visit to the LP National Chairman, Julious Abure, at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday. Chairman, Council of State Chairmen of the party, Ceekay Igara, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, also said they were satisfied with the day to day running of party affairs by the Abure- led NWC. Igara said, “We also want to use this opportunity to debunk the allegation that the Labour Party are planning to suspend our National Leader, Peter Obi. “Like we said earlier, our party is under worst siege ever, including unleashing fierce propaganda against the party. “The party has not at any time contemplated a suspension of our leader. He remains our leader and will continue to lead the party in our avowed determination to pull this nation out from the strangulation under this present government. “We are also using this opportunity to beg our media friends to cease on going media trial against our party and its leaders. What you are witnessing now is orchestrated and will fizzle out very soon. “We are also aware that some people are afraid of the fortunes of the party in Edo state governorship election. “Our exploits in Edo state, generally referred as the headquarters of the Obidient Movement in Nigeria, has not ceased to discomfort them and they are going all the way to fan embers of discord within the party. We want to assure them that their plots will fail and the party will trudge on to massive victory.   Earlier, while stating the main reason for the visit, Igara said, “We are here to pay a solidarity visit to the entire members of the National Working Committee of our great party and particularly to our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure. “We are here to reinforce our confidence on the Barrister Abure’s leadership of the Labour Party and his ability to provide good and transparent leadership. “We are here also to use the opportunity to respond to some of the spurious and unfounded allegations that are being made generally on the leadership of the party especially the one that has to do with mismanagement of funds of the party and lack of transparency in the management of the affairs of the party. “We are a critical part of the leadership of the Labour Party being members of the National Executive Committee. “This present NWC is our baby and we have entrusted our collective trust on it having carefully selected it based on the members pedigree, integrity and administrative capacity to lead the rest of us. “This leadership has displayed high level of transparency in the management of the party finances. The audit report as prepared by the external auditor is very clear about the finances of the party. Our party funds are not missing On the alleged misappropriation of N3.5bn party funds, Igara said, “Let me emphatically state here that our money is not missing. We didn’t generate N3.5b as claimed by the now suspended National Treasurer. “We can confirm that the party only realized N1.3 million during the 2023 general election and another Seven Hundred Million naira donations which was used by the Presidential Campaign Council. “ All these monies were lodged in the banks and were promptly receipted. The audit is also clear about the money generated during the off season elections and how it was managed. “Her allegation that the National Chairman didn’t allow her perform her duties was also a huge lies. In all our financial dealings with the national headquarters, she has always being the officer that has attended to us. From the records, virtually all the cheques were signed by her and the National Chairman. “ It is obvious she may have been influenced to lie against the National Chairman. “You may be wondering why our National Leader and Presidential Candidate in the last general election, Peter Obi, seems to be silent on this matter. “The truth is that our leader has mediated privately on this matter, he is also aware that the sustained attacks against Barrister Abure are sponsored and are politically motivated. “Again, our leader knows the role the National Chairman played during the process of his joining the party, after he joined the party and even during the campaign; he is aware of the immense sacrifices made by the leadership of the party for the project to become a reality. “ He is also aware that all the allegations are unfounded and spurious. That is why he chose to remain silent because he knows the truth. “He also knows that the national chairman is honest and dedicated and he is also passionate about the growth and development of the party. “His decision to involve an independent auditor is a welcome one and we believe that the outcome will finally exonerate Julius Abure and also expose the lies being peddled by the suspended Treasurer. “ It is very clear that the sponsored crisis is the handwork of our political opponents that are afraid of the future of the party. “They are probably nursing fears and are looking for every opportunity to derail the party and to ensure that it is unable to realize its set goals. Labour Party is a dynamite and the fear of the party is the beginning of wisdom for our opponents.” The council of chairmen also took a swipe at activities of the what they described as a “group of urchins” who belong to a renegade party loyalists claiming to be party officials at the state level. He said, “We do not know them; they are not our members. Seated here today in our national headquarters are the authentic state chairmen of the Labour Party

  Suspected terrorists abducted an unspecified number of traders travelling along the Kaduna- Birnin Gwari Road A graphical illustration of gunmen. Bandits on Tuesday afternoon kidnapped over 26 travelers along the Gusau-Sokoto highway. The bandits who were said to have blocked the road around Kwaren Kirya village under Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State abducted all the passengers from a Toyota 18 seater bus and a Volkswagen golf vehicle A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity for security reasons told Channels Television that the situation is getting worrisome as the bandits now block the road daily. “As I’m talking to you now, about 30 minutes ago, these bandits have blocked another side of the road. They cleared the passengers of an 18 seater bus and a golf, the situation is worrisome because it has become an everyday thing for these people to be blocking the road,” the source said. He expressed concern about a village called Balge along the highway which he claimed harbors suspected bandits The source appealed to the government to deploy security outposts around the area to checkmate the activities of the criminals “There is a village when you pass that Kwaren Kirya called Balge, about 80% of settlers in that village are bandits,” the source added. “There was a time they were chased out of the place but a majority of the people there were bandits. We just need government to help us and station military around the area.” Police authorities in the state are yet to comment on the latest incident.

  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it is working to distribute some seized food items nationwide as the biting food crisis continues in the country. According to the National Public Relations, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, the food items will be distributed after they are certified fit for human consumption. In a Tuesday statement, he said the move is “to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians and improve access to essential food items, the Nigeria Customs Service will facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the Federal Government. “These items will be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our Areas of Operations. “The modalities for the disposal will be communicated through NCS formations nationwide, with a firm commitment to transparency, fairness, and public safety. It is our pledge that this exercise will be managed diligently to ensure that the benefits reach those most in need.” The NCS said the development reaffirms the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s commitment to advancing President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda. “This commitment is deeply rooted in the NCS’s core mandate of serving the best interests of the Nigerian people, thereby fostering economic stability and prosperity,” the statement read. The NCS has also launched a “strategic anti-smuggling operation and public engagement in its commitment to preventing the unlawful exportation of vital food resources for individual economic gains”. READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW PRESS RELEASE NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE IMPLEMENTS MEASURES TO MITIGATE FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGES 1. In response to the critical challenges of food security and the soaring costs of essential food items in Nigeria, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirms his commitment to advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda. This commitment is deeply rooted in the NCS’s core mandate of serving the best interests of the Nigerian people, thereby fostering economic stability and prosperity. 2. In line with this vision, the service has launched a strategic anti-smuggling operation and public engagement in its commitment to prevent the unlawful exportation of vital food resources for individual economic gains. This urgent imperative fuels the need for a proactive stance to safeguard food availability within our nation and alleviate the detrimental effects of scarcity on citizens. 3. Furthermore, to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians and improve access to essential food items, the Nigeria Customs Service will facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the Federal Government. These items will be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our Areas of Operations. 4. The modalities for the disposal will be communicated through NCS formations nationwide, with a firm commitment to transparency, fairness, and public safety. It is our pledge that this exercise will be managed diligently to ensure that the benefits reach those most in need. 5. The NCS remains resolute in its dedication to safeguarding the nation’s food security and advancing the economic well-being of all Nigerians. With the unwavering support and cooperation of the public, we will surmount these challenges and pave the way for a more prosperous future for our beloved nation. ABDULLAHI MAIWADA Chief Superintendent of Customs National Public Relations Officer for Comptroller General of Customs 20 February 2024

  The Indigenous People of Biafra has banned protests against hunger in any South-East territory, adding that any Nigerian agent who dares to organise any protest in Biafraland will regret it. The pro-Biafran group stated this in a press statement issued by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, stressing that the current hardship in Nigeria should be the concern of Nigerians, not Biafrans. IPOB said anyone who organised any protest against economic hardship in the South-East would put Ndigbo in danger. The statement read partly, “Following the unprecedented hardship in Nigeria, IPOB ably led by the leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, hereby cautions the people of Biafra not to join any protest against hunger in Nigeria in any South-East territory. THE ROUND TABLE: Food Crisis – Monarchs, NBA Lament Hardship0.00 / 0.00 2 “The current hardship in Nigeria should be the concern of Nigerians, not Biafrans. Biafrans are no longer interested in the affairs of Nigeria. Biafrans were abused, intimidated, beaten, and killed and denied voting rights during the election of this present government. Ndigbo were told to wait and that it was their turn to rule, not the turn of Ndigbo. “Anyone who organise any protest against economic hardship in Biafraland will put Biafrans in danger. During the #EndSARS protest, the Federal Government accused Ndigbo of attempting to destroy Nigeria with violence. We don’t want such profiling and targeting to repeat because Ndigbo participated in any Nigerian mass protest. “Ndigbo should leave the current economic hardship in the contraption called Nigeria for Nigerians to deal with because this hardship is what God Almighty has in store for Nigeria for the crimes they have committed against Biafrans between 1967 to 1970 and up to date. “We understand that Ndigbo is equally affected by the economic hardship arising from the reckless and thoughtless economic policies of the government, but God is still seeing Biafrans through. We are worried about the suffering of other tribes, but there is nothing we can do. The current situation is why Biafrans are fighting for freedom. Nevertheless, we must apply wisdom.” The group further said anyone or group that wants to organise a protest for Nigeria’s hardship should kindly go to Northern or Western Nigeria and stage such a protest there. “Our region is battling the state-sponsored insecurity, kidnappings, and killings by the Federal Government’s agencies and agents, including terrorists. We have much on our hands to do. We will not allow anyone or any group to use the arrangement of protests to import more agents of destabilization into our territory. “ESN is ready to take on the government’s agents who will want to organise hunger protests in Biafraland. Therefore, the IPOB intelligence unit must be on high alert to identify those planning to destabilise Biafraland with senseless Nigeria hunger protests. But Biafrans will come out of this one too unscathed. We will see how serious Nigerians are and how well they are handling the protest. “Biafrans should call IPOB’s inquiry lines if any person or group are found planning to stage a Nigerian hunger protest in our territory. If we catch anyone organizing hunger protests in Biafra land, they will have ESN Operatives and IPOB volunteers to contend with, and the person will ‘smell pepper’,” the statement added. The PUNCH reports that as the pains of the food crisis bite harder, on Monday, youths disrupted commercial activities in parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in protest over the situation in the country. The protest, which started at the popular Mokola Roundabout, spread to Adamasingba, Ekotedo, Onireke, Sango, Bodija, Agbowo, and Ojoo, as the security agencies deployed in the areas to prevent a breakdown of law and order. The incident caused a traffic gridlock on the ever-busy roads to Ojoo, Adamasingba and Bodija areas. The protesters were seen carrying placards complaining about the spiralling current cost of living, the fluctuating prices of food items, economic hardship, and the urgent need for the government to take pragmatic steps toward making food affordable. Their mantra, ‘Ebi n pa wa’ (we are hungry) charged the atmosphere. Some of the inscriptions read, ‘Mr President, this is not the hope you promised,’ ‘This is shege,’ ‘Is this the renewed hope that you promised?’ ‘End hardship,’ ‘We want peace’ and so on.

  Nine travellers on Kabba-Lokoja Road in Kogi State have been kidnapped. Those kidnapped include two women, four men and two female students. The incident occured last Saturday about 4:30p.m., when tahe passengers who were travelling from Kabba to Lokoja for a church convention were stopped and whisked into the bush. The victims, who were all members of the Jehovah Witness, were said to have taken off from the Kingdom Hall in Kabba. Husband to one of the victim, Mr. Elupo Eliazer, said the kidnappers have made contact with the family with their demands. He said: “They called to demand first for N30 million but later reduced it to N2.6 million after negotiation. “My wife and I were travelling to attend our church convention scheduled for Lokoja, but I decided to follow a different vehicle as the Toyota bus could not contain all of us, else I would have been in the car with her.” Eliazer, who is a Person With Disability said the vehicle his wife travelled with was ahead of the one he was in but all the occupants of the bus were already marched in to the bush before the vehicle he boarded got to the spot.” He said the kidnappers had warned them not to inform or involve the police. However, the Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, when contacted promised to find out and get back with the details later. He was, however