The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has arrested a pregnant woman, one Mrs Rosemary Ubah, for allegedly conspiring with one Walter Ezeala to fake her own kidnap.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters.

Igweh explained that the two suspects were nabbed on March 11 after Rosemary’s husband, Chiedozie Ubah, reported to Gwagwa Police Division that his pregnant wife who left home for a scan, failed to return.

He said Chiedozie later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that she has been kidnapped.

The caller demanded N2 million ransom for her release.

“He transferred the sum of two (2) million naira into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper. He later brought his wife to the station after her release.

“During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to having conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala ‘m’ living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband.

“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his own share was eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira and the lady took one million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000).

“The sum of Seven hundred and ninety three thousand five hundred naira (N793,500) cash, two (2) FCMB ATM cards and two android phones was recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.”

The wife of Kebbi governor, Nafisa Nasir-Idris, has distributed cash and bags of rice to 500 women as Ramadan feeding support in the state.

She distributed the items during a lecture tagged: “Kebbi Women Ramadan Lecture”, which was organised by the governor’s wife and held in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Mrs Nasir-Idris said the effort was meant to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship.

She enjoined women to use the holy month of Ramadan to remain prayerful for the sustenance of peace and progress of the state and the country in general.

“I call on you to be supportive to your husbands and instill morality as well as good values in your children to raise decent families that can uphold admirable societal values,” she advised.

The governor’s wife stressed the need for women to respect and support their husbands, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, to maintain permanent peace at home as prescribed in Islamic religion.

“We have to respect, honour and support our husbands because we are all under them; we should train our children with good morals, we should give our children both religious and western education to nurture good homes.

”Our Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has enjoined us to marry and regenerate so that we can raise a disciplined family and good children, not miscreants.

“Women are good home trainers; we, therefore, need to closely monitor our children and give them sound training,” she urged.

Mrs Nasir-Idris reiterated her call on women to be united and steadfast in prayers for the development of the state and Nigeria in general.

The governor’s wife thanked the Islamic scholars who delivered papers at the lecture, saying that she and her husband were receptive to meaningful advice from the public to facilitate good governance.

Earlier, the commissioner for women affairs, Halima Hassan-Kamba, commended the wife of the governor for organising the Ramadan lecture and providing empowerment to women in the state.

The commissioner expressed gratitude to the Islamic scholars for their insightful presentations to educate women on various topics in the month of Ramadan.

Islamic scholars who delivered papers at the occasion included Malama Juwairiyya Bintu-Usman, Shiekh Aminu Hassan, Malama Zainab Jafa’ar-Adam, and Malama Hauwa’u Abubakar, who dwelt on the ethical values and benefits of Ramadan fasting in Islam.

Highlights of the event included questions and answers, recitation of the Qur’an, as well as presentation of cash and assorted grains to 500 women by the wife of the governor.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kano State Command, has said it has arrested one Muhammad Munzali, 35, for allegedly sneaking into a female hostel at the Skyline University, Kano.

Its Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Kano.

He said that NSCDC operatives attached to critical national assets, on March 10, arrested the suspect while sneaking into the female hostel of Skyline University situated in Nasarawa GRA, Kano.

“The suspect disguised as a woman and was found with charms round his body,” Mr Idris-Abdullahi added.

He said that the suspect would soon be charged to court.

The officer quoted the Corps’ Commandant in Kano, Mohammed Lawal-Falala, as charging officers and men of the command to be extra vigilant.

The commandant also urged them to intensify surveillance in and around public and private educational institutions to protect students from criminals.

Felix Gbolade, zonal commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has assured of the agency’s readiness to partner with NAFDAC in tackling product adulteration and counterfeiting in the North-West zone.

Mr Gbolade, in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, stated this during his visit to NAFDAC coordinator Garba Adamu on Tuesday in Sokoto.

While commending NAFDAC for its extensive services, he said that NSCDC would continue to collaborate with the agency toward achieving the mandates of the two organisations.

With the extensive network of intelligence and enforcement officers in the zone, the command is willing and ready to partner with NAFDAC in safeguarding the health of the nation,” he said.

Mr Gbolade said that the visit aimed to strengthen the existing partnership and discuss some areas to fine-tune some harmonious activities.

Responding, Mr Adamu thanked the NSCDC chief for the visit, saying it would further motivate them to rejuvenate joint activities in accordance with their respective mandates.

He acknowledged NAFDAC’s commitment to fighting the circulation of counterfeit, adulterated, unregistered, and banned products in the interest of people’s health and the country’s safety.

President Bola Tinubu has urged wealthy individuals to assist the indigent in society to alleviate their suffering particularly during the Ramadan fast.

Mr Tinubu made the call on Sunday in Kano while inaugurating the distribution of 140 truck-loads of rice donated by Senator Abdullahi Yari in honour of the President.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Mr Tinubu commended the gesture.

He said that it was aimed at supporting individuals who were in need at this critical time.

“All over the world, leadership belongs to more than one person. There is a need to always help the vulnerable in society. Let us come together, unite as a country and forge ahead for a better Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Tinubu commended Mr Yari for donating the 140 trucks of rice labelled with his name and picture for distribution to the less-privileged.

He also said that the commodity would go a long way in easing the hardship faced by many at this time.

The [President, however, called on Nigerians to pray for the unity, peace and progress of the country during the holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier, the representative of Mr Yari, Dr Abubakar Danburam, said the 140 trucks contained 50kg of 84, 000 bags of rice.

Mr Danburam revealed that it would be distributed to at least 500,000 households in the North.

He said that the gesture was to complement Mr Tinubu’s efforts of supporting the needy and other vulnerable in society.

Mr Yari enjoined Nigerians to pray for relief from the economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company attributed the current state of the power supply within its franchise area to several factors, including low supply of gas to generating companies.

Spokesperson for IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, in a statement on Sunday in Ibadan, Oyo State, said that the low supply of gas to generating companies had resulted in gradual decrease in available generation into the grid.

According to her, the development has contributed to the disruptions and inconveniences currently being experienced by residents and businesses within its franchise area, namely: Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara and part of Kogi, Niger and Ekiti states.

Ms Tunwase also said that this had significantly reduced the power available on the transmission grid for onward supply to IBEDC, thus hindering the company’s ability to provide power to customers within the area.

She said, “Scheduled maintenance activities conducted by the Transmission Company of Nigeria in January and March, 2024 also necessitates planned outages in specific areas of our network. While these measures are essential for ensuring the long-term reliability of electricity infrastructure, we recognise the inconvenience they may cause and sincerely apologise for any disruption experienced by our customers.’’

The spokesperson also mentioned vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure as other major issues negatively impacting power supply.

She specifically mentioned the vandalism of TCN towers in Ogun in May 2023 which resulted in over seven months of darkness for many customers.

She said that IBEDC had been confronted with the escalating cases of vandalism, with over 40 incidents already recorded since the beginning of the year.

She added, “The theft of valuable assets, such as transformer oil, cables and aluminium conductors, pose a significant challenge to our operations, as communities affected are thrown into extended periods of outage, depending on the severity of the act.

Energy theft through illegal connections, meter bypass and illicit meters are also major issues affecting adequate supply of power to customers, because they result in revenue losses and liquidity problems for the electricity value chain. We have also noticed an alarming upsurge, with over 1,450 identified cases of energy theft between January and February 2024.’’

Ms Tunwase added that payment apathy from customers was another major challenge to adequate supply of power.

She, however, said that IBEDC had partnered with security agencies to reduce energy theft and vandalism, even as she urged customers to remain vigilant, protect electrical infrastructures within their communities and report any suspicious activity promptly.

She noted, “Unfortunately, across our customer segments, we have different mindsets that electricity is a social service and should not be paid for; some only pay part of the bill, while others don’t pay because they haven’t received their preferred hours of supply.

“To all our customers, our appeal is simple: please pay for whatever hours of supply you have consumed, in addition to the outstanding bills to enable IBEDC survive and become sustainable, as this is the guarantee for improved power supply.”

Ms Tunwase, however, said that in spite of the challenges, the company remained optimistic that poor supply would soon become a thing of the past, as the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had taken urgent steps to address the gas supply issue.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have uncovered drugs hidden within the engine compartments and tyre tubes of commercial vehicles.

Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, shared this information via his X account on Sunday, along with a video showcasing the intercepted contraband.

He expressed concern over the increasing desperation of drug traffickers and questioned whether passengers should now inspect vehicle components before boarding.

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Wednesday began a three-day warning strike after a patient’s relative assaulted a physician.

In a statement, the president and vice-president of ARD-UCH Ibadan, John Oladapo and Sunday Adegbite, respectively, said they were demanding a public apology in two widely read national dailies.

They also said there must be, in addition, an admission of wrongdoing by the assailants. The association’s members also demanded that the security architecture of the hospital be improved.

“On Sunday, one of our members was the target of a deliberate, premeditated, planned rage and furious assault by a patient’s relation. The doctor was seeing a known sickle cell patient in a painful crisis at the emergency department when the two men accosted him in the consulting room and started beating him up.

“The mother of the patient being seen who tried to intervene was also beaten up in this assault. In the doctor’s attempt to escape, the men chased him down and beat him up,” said the statement.

It added, “The security officers of the hospital intervened and rescued our member, but not before he sustained injuries to his body, as well as mental health and esteem.

“These assailants, friend to the father of a patient who died on Saturday, were awaiting the death certificate of the patient to be written while settling outstanding bills.

“Our members, who received a call from the emergency department concerning the Sickle Cell patient, explained this emergency call to the patient’s father, obtained his permission to save the living and attend to the death certificate later.”

The doctors’ association explained that the assailants were enraged and said the doctor was wasting their time and attacked him.

This attack is the latest in a long history of attacks on medical doctors in UCH,” the association noted in its statement.

It added that the police had, however, arrested the assailants — Olaniyi Dauda and Hammed Surajudeen — and charged them to court.

“However, the ARD-UCH Ibadan has embarked on a strike today (Wednesday), and this will last for a maximum of 72 hours,” the statement noted.

The Ogun command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) decorated three senior and three intermediate officers and five junior marshals with new ranks on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

Speaking during the ceremony, Anthony Uga, the sector commander, said the decorated officers benefited from the 2023 promotion exercise.

Mr Uga said the officers were decorated with the ranks of deputy corps commander (DCM), assistant corps commander (ACM), superintendent route commander (SRC) and route commander (RC).

He expressed his appreciation of the FRSC management for the promotion and urged the officers not to disappoint the corps for the reposed confidence in them.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to reducing road traffic crashes to the barest minimum.

Jigawa State government has confirmed the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in six local government areas of the state.

The state director, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (PHC) Dr. Shehu Sambo disclosed this during the flag off of 2024 Polio eradication campaign at the palace of the emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu on Saturday.

According to him, “an outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis cases has been recorded in some local government areas of this state.”

According to him “the local government areas are sharing direct boarder with the Niger republic”.

They include: Babura, Birniwa, Malam Madori, Maigari, Kaugama and Suletankarkar local government areas.

Sambo noted that the cases had been isolated in the affected local government areas and medical teams had been dispatched to start immunizing the target population in the affected areas.

He advised people to take precautionary measures by sleeping in a ventilated room and avoid over crowding in rooms.

On Thursday, the National Hospital, Abuja, discharged the sextuplets delivered on January 30.

Precious Nwachukwu had the children after 13 years of marriage.

While handing the babies over to the parents and other helpers, the chief medical director, Muhammad Mahmud, said that the successful delivery of the babies and their care was a good feat recorded by the hospital.

He also said the babies, who had gone through certain stages of care to ensure that they were healthy, were given the best chances of survival by the neonatal unit of the hospital.

Mr Mahmud also applauded the family for keeping hope alive all these years and pushing themselves despite challenges.

He commended the philanthropists who had come to assist the family, adding that they still needed more support from all Nigerians to properly care for the children how they should be cared for.

The chief consultant neonatologist, Mariya-Mukhtar Yola, said birthing and caring for the sextuplets was indeed one of the rarest occasions the unit had had.

She said at birth, all the babies had special health challenges, thereby needing respiratory support and support with sugar levels, temperature, feeding, blood and even infection prevention.

The father of the babies, Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, appreciated the hospital for caring for the wife from four months into the pregnancy up till delivery.

He also thanked them for caring for the pre-term babies until they were fit to be discharged.

“We need the help of the teeming Nigerians and the amazing mother we have up there in the person of the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu. We have named the last daughter after her,” said Mr Nwachukwu.

“We really desire that you come to our aid. The home that we are taking these children to now is a concern, and how to sustain them to be good citizens of Nigeria is a concern, but I know that you all can help us.”

The babies – four girls and two boys – were conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and were delivered at 30 weeks through Caesarean section.

The wife of Abia governor, Priscilla Otti, distributed 600 bags of 50kg rice, 1,000 kegs of 2.5 litres of groundnut oil, and cash to persons with disabilities on Thursday.

In a speech at the event in Umuahia, Ms Otti said the gesture demonstrated her commitment to supporting PWDs to assist them navigate over the economic challenges facing the country.

She affirmed her determination to continue to provide support and opportunities for vulnerable persons, adding that the palliative support programme would lead to more positive developments in future.

“There are a lot of interventions from the federal government, like the NG-cares. I know that members of your community might not have fully benefitted from them. We are going to work assiduously to ensure that you are included in these interventions,” she said.

Mr Otti said she was delighted to see the efforts made by most members of the disabled community to harness their exceptional abilities and become self-reliant despite facing some challenges.

She assured the PWDs of the government’s resolve to provide support and opportunities for self-reliance that could make a significant difference in their lives.

She appealed to philanthropists and good-spirited individuals to support the government’s efforts toward improving the welfare of PWDs.

The commissioner for sports and youth development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the Abia government had created various platforms that could be used to improve the welfare of PWDs.

Mr Ananaba said the government prioritised the interest of PWDs.

He said the government was interested in ensuring they received equal opportunities as their counterparts to become empowered and positively impact society.

The Nigeria Customs Service says it has begun distributing seized food items to hungry citizens to help mitigate the current hardships.

However, the agency said persons with a verifiable National Identification Number (NIN).

Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise in Lagos on Thursday, the comptroller-general of customs, Wale Adeniyi, said the federal government ordered the distribution of the seized food items.

Mr Adeniyi said customs was working with other agencies to distribute the seized foods directly to needy Nigerians. Mr Adeniyi said Nigerians would require a verifiable NIN to benefit.

“Our target includes artisans, teachers, religious organisations and other Nigerians within the area of customs operations, including the border areas.

“The intention of this distribution is to reach out directly to members of organisations that have structures to ensure the maximum impact of the exercise.

“The effort of the distribution is to ensure robust security protocol throughout the process as officers will closely monitor the entire supply chain to prevent any misuse or possible diversion of food items,” said Mr Adeniyi.

He said that the gesture was part of the federal government’s efforts to reduce food prices in the country.

The customs boss added, “We collaborate with other sister agencies of the government, while customs is the lead agency because the food items are with us.

“Among us here are the police and DSS, and tomorrow, we are going to have a full department of all the sister organisations for proper monitoring.”

Mr Adeniyi said the rice distributed was certified for consumption by the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) before being re-bagged to 25kg to reach as many Nigerians as possible.

The customs boss said 10 points had been created for the processing, and interested Nigerians should come with their NIN to restrict people from benefiting twice.

He added that customs would work with the police to ensure the food items were not resold.

Mr Adeniyi, however, urged Nigerians to report any incident of misuse or unauthorised resale of the food items. He said customs would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone possessing food items in their stores.

Mr Adeniyi said customs officers had intercepted over 20,000 bags of 50kg of parboiled rice, beans, maise, millet, and soya beans.

The customs boss added that the area commands detained over 50 trucks containing the food items.

He said other items seized included 2,500 cartons of 963 bags of assorted dried fish, dry pepper, seasoning, salt, cooking oil, macaroni, sugar and garri.

A consultant physician at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Samuel Ajayi, has advised Nigerians to reduce salt intake to prevent or lower their high blood pressure.

Mr Ajayi gave the advice in an interview on Thursday in Ibadan.

He said having a healthy diet (diet with fruits and vegetables and drinking water of at least three litres a day) could also help regulate blood pressure.

According to him, reducing alcohol intake, losing weight if overweight or obese, exercising regularly, cutting down on caffeine consumption, and cessation of smoking can also help in reducing high blood pressure.

“There are several medications that can be used. However, doctors can choose certain medications, depending on age, the presence of other diseases like diabetes or the presence of complications of hypertension, such as heart failure or kidney disease.

“It is also important to have regular blood pressure checks and regular follow-ups with doctors,” he said.

The consultant physician listed things that could increase the risk of hypertension, including being overweight, eating too much salt and not eating enough fruits and vegetables.

Others, he said, were not exercising, drinking too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks), smoking, stress, age over 65, having a relative with high blood pressure and being of the black race.

He said in about 10 to 15 per cent of cases, hypertension happened as a result of an underlying health condition or taking certain medicine.

Mr Ajayi said that health conditions that could cause hypertension included kidney disease, diabetes, sleep apnoea (where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep) and interruption of normal breathing.

“There are some medicines that can increase blood pressure, which are contraceptive pills, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen.

“There are also some pharmacy cough and cold remedies, some herbal remedies, particularly those containing liquorice, and some recreational drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines like Molly.

“In these cases, the blood pressure may return to normal once the drugs are stopped,” he said.

Mr Ajayi also explained that when the blood pressure is too high, it strains the blood vessels, heart, and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys, and eyes.

“Persistent high blood pressure can increase the risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and heart failure.

“Reducing blood pressure by even a small amount can help lower the risk of these health conditions,” the consultant physician said.

The Adamawa State Police Command has nabbed three suspected kidnappers and rescued a female victim.

The Command added that its operatives worked with some local hunters.

“The Adamawa State Police Command, in collaboration with hunters, has busted a kidnapping syndicate and arrested three suspected kidnappers terrorizing the people of Gombi general area and rescued a 16-year-old female victim,” the command said in a statement.

The statement, obtained on Wednesday from the state Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Nguroje, said the arrest and rescue came after the police received a tipoff from some good Samaritans.

“Operatives of the Adamawa State Police Command attached to Crack Squad in collaboration with Hunters of Baka Gombi, following a tip off, stormed a kidnapping den at Fotta village, Gombi Local Government Area and arrested a three-man gang,” it added.

The statement named the suspects as Alhaji Habu, 41 years old; Adamu Buba, 36; and Lawali Ahmadu, 38.

“The suspects were all arrested at a certain house situated at a remote side of Fotta Village where they camped their kidnapped female victim and demanded Eight Million Naira (N8,000,000) ransom,” the statement explained.

“The rescued victim has been identified as Aisha Saidu and was kidnapped three days ago from Buma Village of Shani Local Government Area, Borno State, now receiving Medical attention.”

The Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has promised to partner the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to tackle corruption.

Akintayo Adaralewa, Osun NSCDC commandant, made the promise during a courtesy visit to ICPC resident anti-corruption commissioner, Demola Bakare, on Monday in Osogbo, the state capital.

Mr Adaralewa said the NSCDC would continue to make its personnel available for the ICPC during its anti-corruption operation.

The commandant commended the commission’s efforts in the fight against corruption, which had eaten deep into every sector.

He said there was a need to join forces to tackle corrupt practices.

Mr Adaralewa urged Nigerians to collaborate with the ICPC in the fight against corruption.

In his response, the ICPC boss said it was important for all government agencies to collaborate to stem the tide of corruption in the country.

However, Mr Bakare said one of the challenges the commission faced in the state was a lack of relevant information by the public to eradicate corruption.

He appealed to members of the public and the NSCDC to share information and intelligence that could assist the commission to minimise corruption in society.

Mr Bakare said the commission was ready to partner with the NSCDC in the fight against corruption.

Alheri Ibrahim-Sanchi, the director of veterinary services in the Kebbi Ministry of Animal Husbandry, says the state government has stepped up efforts to mitigate the spread of avian influenza (bird flu) that reared its ugly head.

He disclosed this while addressing journalists shortly after fumigating a farm infected with the disease in Amanawa village, Kalgo, outskirts of Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

The disease has so far killed 14 peacocks in the affected facility. Mr Ibrahim-Sanchi said the essence of the exercise was to curtail the spread.

The fumigation was carried out by a team of professionals under “One Health”, comprising experts from ministries of animal husbandry, health, environment, information, and principal partners.

He explained that some peacocks were reported to have been ill, and the pattern of mortality became worrisome, “so we send a team of veterinary doctors for preliminary investigation.

“Upon investigation, we found it necessary to take samples sent to the Veterinary Diagnostic Reference Laboratory in Jos.

“When those samples were analysed, unfortunately for us, they returned positive for ‘Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1)’, so, this is what necessitated this exercise, to first of all come to the scene where these birds were resident and do the needful.”

The director said the main task was to ensure that the incident did not go beyond the affected facility, assuring that the team would go ahead and take active surveillance, “which is a pattern of seeking other likely cases that may be occurring in our state.”

Mr Ibrahim-Sanchi appealed to poultry owners to remain calm but be vigilant and intensify bio-security, adding that “it is a disease that can cause high economic loss for poultry owners.”

He advised poultry farmers to share information with their colleagues and minimise the number of people visiting the poultry.

Mr Ibrahim-Sanchi added that the ministry, in collaboration with sister ministries and agencies, was trying to sensitise the public to the disease.

Also, in an interview, the director of public health at Kebbi Ministry of Health, Abubakar Bagudu-Muhammad, confirmed that the disease had the potency to affect humans, adding that “it is also pathogenic, meaning it can be transmitted from one person to another.”

Mr Bagudu-Muhammad charged veterinary zonal officers, local government disease surveillance and notification under health, zonal officers of the Ministry of Environment and focal persons at the ward and community levels to be vigilant and put more attention on the border axis.

There was tears on Saturday, as the remains of Lady Caroline Aguiyi – Ironsi , the daughter of Nigeria’ s former Head of State , General Thomas Umunnankwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was on Saturday, laid to rest at Umuana village, Ndume Ibeku in Umuahia North local government area of Abia State.

Lady Caroline, who died at 68, was popular in the community for her kindness to the people and advocacy for the ordinary people.In his message at the event, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, described the late Lady Caroline Aguiyi-Ironsi as a woman of substance with a heart of gold, pure and natural.

Otti, who was represented by his Deputy, Ikechuckwu Emetu, posited that Caroline was a truly caring woman who touched the lives of so many people with her kindness, warmth, and compassion.

He called on the family to remain strong and look forward to the positive side of life in recognition of the legacy of love and generosity exemplified by the deceased.

Responding on behalf of the family, former Minister of Defence and son of late General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi thanked Governor Otti for identifying with the family during the trying period and prayed for God’s wisdom and good health to enable him deliver on his ongoing programmes in the state.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to pray for his mother, Mama Eunice Afeni-Jonathan and his family following the death of his elder sister, Madam Obebhatein.

Jonathan said the death of Madam Obebhatein traumatised their mother.

He spoke during the burial of Madam Obebhatein in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Friday.

Jonathan noted that Madam Obebhatein, who died aged 70 on January 11, 2024, was his only surviving sibling from his aged mother.

According to him: “Death, as they say, is something we all pass through. But the time it comes also matters. Yes, we will all die someday but the time matters.

“My elder sister died at a time that we can gather these celebrities to celebrate her, but that our mother is to mourn her is the nasty aspect of the whole thing.

“My mother has lost her first child that ought to mourn her when God calls her. I have to sincerely thank the Bayelsa State First Lady and other women who came around her because I was then in London.

“If you knew what she used to be and what she is now, you would know that she is still traumatised. So continue to pray for my mum. God will see us through. I thank you.”

The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, CP Shehu Umar Nadada, has paraded 12 suspects arrested for child trafficking and other criminal activities in the state.

The suspects, linked to the sale of 45 children, were paraded on Friday in Lafia.

A total of 57 suspects were arrested by the state Police Command from January 1 to date, according to Nadada, who spoke during a press briefing at the state Police Command Headquarters in Lafia.

The suspects include three suspected kidnappers, three armed robbery suspects, and twenty suspected fraudsters, along with others arrested for rape and motorcycle/vehicle theft.

One of the cases involved the abduction of a five-year-old boy in Keffi, where Ismaila Adamu was arrested for his involvement in a syndicate specializing in child theft.

This led to the arrest of several other suspects involved in the theft and sale of children.

Nadada stated that analysis conducted on the suspects’ phones revealed that 45 children had been stolen and illegally adopted by unsuspecting members of the public across the country.

He said the suspects confessed to theft and selling the children at different prices, ranging from N350,000 to N1,500,000, depending on their age and gender.

They also revealed that they conspired with Social Welfare officers of some ministries to produce fake documents and sell the children to willing buyers.

The Police Commissioner stated that six children have been rescued in Abuja, Ondo, and Lagos states, respectively, and efforts are ongoing to arrest more suspects involved in the crime and recover more of the stolen children.

“The suspects have confessed to the theft and selling of so many children at different prices ranging from N350,000 to N1,500,000, depending on their age and gender.

“The suspects further stated that they steal and sell the Children by conspiring with Social Welfare officers of some ministries; where they produce fake documents and sell the Children to willing buyers.

“So far, Six (6) children have been rescued in Abuja, Ondo and Lagos State respectively. Effort is ongoing to arrest more suspects involved in the commission of the crime and recover more of the stolen Children,” Nadada said.

Various items were recovered from the suspects, including fake foreign currency, firearms and ammunition, 10 motorcycles, and 2 vehicles, among others, as exhibits.