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03/14/19

Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano and former Governor of the state, has said the incoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state will not be able to pay N30, 000 minimum wage to workers as they anticipate to inherit an empty treasury from Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje's administration.

Kwankwaso, who addressed a group of Kwankwassiyya supporters in Kaduna, said the PDP is sure of victory in the supplementary election and will not continue with the payment of N30, 000 minimum wage as promised workers by Ganduje.

“As the leader of the party in Kano, I have directed our Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, not to pay the minimum wage because that is the APC manifesto and we will not take it," Kwanllkwas said.

"Anyway, we will ensure that workers get their salaries on or before the 25th of every month, but what we will not do is to pay the minimum wage."

At the time the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Kano governorship election inconclusive, PDP’s Yusuf had polled 1,014,474 votes while APC’s Ganduje had 987,819.

However, the margin of 26,655 votes between the two top candidates meant it was impossible for INEC to declare a winner.”

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Farouk Lawan, Nasiru Garo...Kano Commissioner Names PDP Leaders Who 'Tore' Election Result Sheets

Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, Kano State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, has accused Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives, and Nasiru Sule Garo, a serving member of the House of Representatives, of destroying the result sheets of Gama Ward in Nasarawa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The Commissioner, who was widely accused of disrupting the collation process at the ward, denied the allegation, and accused supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of destroying the result sheet.

Garo alleged that he was manhandled by PDP supporters at Nasarawa LGA collation centre in their bid to stop him from gaining access to the venue, saying his clothes were torn in the ensuing melee.

He said before himself and the deputy governor arrived at the collation centre, after they got information that some PDP members were at the centre trying to disrupt the process, Farouk Lawan, Nasiru Sule Garo, and other PDP stalwarts were seen tearing the result sheets without resistance from anyone, including the security agents manning the collation centre.

His words: “It is not true. These people, the PDP people, I can name some of them: Hon. Farouk Lawan, Honourable Nasiru Sule Garo, and other members of PDP went to Nasarawa Local Government collation centre, assaulted the INEC officer and tore the entire result sheets of the Local Government. The INEC officer has reported that which you are aware of.

“This Commissioner of Police has been compromised and is selective and we are not going to take it anymore, because he has not been fair to us at all. We were informed by our party agents, that some PDP stalwarts were tearing result sheets of the contentious Gama Ward. That is what prompted His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, who is from Nasarawa to get first hand information.”

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'Being A Short Man, He Hanged Himself' — NSCDC Denies Killing Man Who 'Raped' Daughter

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo State says 46-year-old Rasak Ahmed, who died in custody, "hanged himself to death".

Samuel Oladapo, the spokesman of NSCDC in the state, disclosed this in a press statement issued in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday.

SaharaReporters had reported how the mechanical engineer was tortured to death by men of the NSCDC over an allegation that he sexually abused his eight-year-old daughter.

Ahmed's death has generated a lot of controversy as the family of the deceased are asking for justice.

Family members had explained that the officers of the NSCDC killed Ahmed, their breadwinner, after NSCDC refused to free him from custody.

"It was the NSCDC officers that killed him. I saw about 10 of them using sticks to hit him to force him to confess what he knew nothing about. I am sure it was the result of that beating and maltreatment that led to his death in the custody of the NSCDC. So, this is why we are calling on the media and human rights groups to please help us with this case, because the powers that be are interested in sweeping the case under the carpet," a family member said.

However, a statement signed by Oladapo read: “The suspect was arrested by our men at our out-post station and brought to the state headquarters on Monday for proper investigations. And during our investigation, Ahmed confessed to the offence and attributed it to devil's work.

"Before he was detained in the cell, he was complaining and begging that he should be allowed to put on his 'buba' and 'sokoto' because he had cold, which we obliged. Meanwhile, he was brought to the headquarters around 6pm and surprisingly, when one of our men approached his cell to deliver food brought by one of his relatives, he was found dangling on iron door of the cell, being a short man, having torn his cloth to hang himself.

"It was unfortunate that he was the only inmate in the cell, which made it easy for him to carry out the dastardly act.”

Speaking to our correspondent on the phone on Thursday, Oladapo denied that the NSCDC tortured Mr. Ahmed to death.

He explained that the NSCDC officers were well trained and could not have tortured the man to death.

"The NSCDC officials are civil and does not torture suspects, let alone killing a suspect," he said.

SaharaReporters further learnt that Ahmed’s corpse had been deposited at the hospital's morgue.

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INEC Planning To Alter Imo National Assembly Result, Claims APC

The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged a plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to change the result of the rerun election of Imo North senatorial district.

The election was declared inconclusive after cases of malpractices and rigging were recorded.

A new date was fixed by the commission and the rerun was done on March 9, 2019 at the six Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the senatorial district.

However, reactions have continued to trail the rerun with the APC alleging a plot by the electoral commission to change the results to favour the opposition party.

Francis Udoka, one of the party supporters, faulted the commission for not announcing the winner of the election, five days after the polls, stating that “INEC is obviously acting a written script.”

He said: “The drama that characterised the March 9th National Assembly rerun in Imo North senatorial district seems to be evolving rather than abating, as collated results from the elections and announced at the various Local Government Areas have remained unannounced at the federal constituency level and winners not declared.

“In what seemed like an attempt to provoke the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable Chike Okafor, the INEC Returning Officer for Okigwe South, Professor Duruigbo, who obviously acting a written script, probably expecting to be resisted, so as to claim that they were compelled to announce the result under duress, informed the LGA party agents that they had to relocate to Owerri, the Imo State capital, before they announce the results.”

Francis stated that there was no security threat in the senatorial district that would have warranted moving to Owerri, adding that since the results were moved to Owerri, it had not been announced.

“We are surprised at the collation and wanted to know why the sudden need to go to Owerri for a House of Reps election in Okigwe South, when there was no security threat to the announcement. But the Returning Officer gave no reason and the party agents obliged him, and followed up to Owerri, where they had since mounted siege at the INEC office waiting for the third day for INEC to declare the winners,” he added.

Calls to Mrs. Emmanuella Opara, INEC Public Relations Officer in Imo, were unsuccessful and she is yet to reply messages sent to her.

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AUDIO: Olatoye ‘Sugar’, Slain Oyo Federal Lawmaker, 'Was A Serial Killer' While Alive

Temiope Olatoye 'Sugar', the lawmaker representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, who was shot last Saturday, has been accused of masterminding numerous killings as well.

Olatoye was shot in the eye during a clash with thugs during the Oyo State governorship election.

Known for his trademark caps, which usually bore the letters 'SU', Sugar schooled at the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, and later attended University of Ibadan, according to his profile on the National Assembly website.

An audio recording of someone, who claimed to be his landlady, emerged shortly after the incident.

The woman, who was answering questions from a radio presenter on Sugar's person while alive, expressed reservations on his conduct, stating specifically that his death “is the law of karma". Olatoye ‘Sugar’, Slain Oyo Federal Lawmaker, 'Was A Serial Killer' While Alive

She said: “In fact, it’s the law of karma. It’s what one does that will eventually happen to the person. He killed many people. He’s [Gbenga] Daniel’s thug. They say ‘a powerful man dies like a weakling'. His father [is] a Reverend. I [know] his father and mother.

“They wanted to burn down my house. He killed one fellow called ‘Bukky Boy’, a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. He tied the ‘Bukky Boy’ fellow to a car from Osiele to Egbeda. Before the Police got to the scene of the incident, the fellow had died. People get judgement in this life. Who would have thought that he would be killed like that with all the ‘orisa’ (spiritual protection) he had?”

She went on to lament other atrocities he allegedly committed while alive, stating that at the time, he became untouchable.

However, after he passed, she said she got many congratulatiry calls from people.

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Sanwo-Olu Walks Past As Woman Laments Death Of Her Child In Lagos Building Crash

The families of some of the victims of the Lagos building collapse have accused some staff of the General Hospital, Marina, Lagos, of demanding money for services such the release of the bodies of their loved ones following Wednesday's tragedy.

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, had promised that the state government would foot the medical expense of victims when he visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday.

However, when SaharaReporters visited the hospital on Thursday, a woman who had just lost her child was crying uncontrollably. She called out to the governor-elect of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene, but there was no response from him.

When SaharaReporters probed further, we learnt that the mortuary staff of the hospital where demanding money to release the corpse of some of the unfortunate victims in the collapse.

"They are not collecting money for excursions from us, or taxes to fix our cities but when our children die they will collect money. Is this good?" a woman cried out uncontrollably.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was visiting, simply walked past, talking with some of the people who had accompanied him.

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11-Year-Old Girl 'Gang-Raped' By Three 'Keke NAPEP' Drivers In Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested three commercial tricycle (popularly known as 'Keke NAPEP') drivers over alleged gang rape of an 11-year-old girl in an uncompleted building along the Azikoro village road of the state.

The alleged gang rape, which was reportedly carried out a fortnight ago, was reported to the Divisional Police office at Azikoro road after a 'speak out' campaign initiated by the Dise Ogbise Foundation (DOF).

The victim, whose name was withheld, was threatened with death by the three tricyclists after she was repeatedly raped.

Though the details of the alleged gang rape were sketchy, the victim revealed the matter to the coordinator of the DOF, Barrister Dise Ogbise-Erhisere, during the speak-up advocacy campaign tour of private and public secretary schools in the state.

Ogbise-Erhisere, a legal practitioner and Chairperson of the Sagbama branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), also confirmed that through the speak-up advocacy campaign, over 20 cases of defilement were discovered.

"The accused tricyclists and others have all been arrested and we hope that they will be prosecuted soon. This incident occurred three weeks ago," she said.

She said the UNICEF report of 2018 indicated that at least one or more cases of sexual violence by profiles occurred in Bayelsa State daily, with many unreported. The report is further worsened with the fact that the cases between the ages of one month to 17 years declined to speak up, and no report of these cases was made to the relevant agencies for either prosecution or prompt medical attention.

"Another case point is that of a 15-year-old girl who was raped on her way to the market and she kept quiet for over four months because she was threatened with death. The end result is a four-month pregnancy," she added.

"The Dise Ogbise foundation embarked on the speak up campaign to all schools in Baylesa State. This is indeed a wake-up call that once a child notices any suspected child molesters around them, our advice is for them to speak up and report to the Police. The speak up campaign also deals with cases of those who have been defiled to speak up as silence of our kids is getting from Bad to worst on daily basis. "

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Ajimobi Hosts 'My Brother' Seyi Makinde At Oyo Govt House

Abiola Ajimobi, outgoing Governor of Oyo State, on Thursday hosted Seyi Makinde, governor-elect of Oyo State, at the Government House.

Makinde, in the company of other politicians in Oyo State, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor.

Makinde, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated Adebayo Adelabu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ajimobi is also an APC governor.

Makinde polled 515,621 votes to defeat Adelabu, who polled 357,982 votes in the March 9 governorship election in the state.

Expressing delight on the occasion, Ajimobi wrote on Twitter: "Earlier today, Oyo State’s Governor-Elect, my brother Engr. Seyi Makinde, paid me a courtesy visit at the Government House."

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Five Years After, Mothers Of Thousands Of Men Massacred By Nigerian Soldiers Demand Justice

The Jire Dole Mothers Network has called on the Nigerian government to ensure justice for their sons who were massacred by officers of the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Civilian Joint Task Force on March 14, 2014.

The mothers also called on the government to provide the whereabouts of their sons, some of whom were arrested as far back as 2011.

At a press conference held on Thursday, the women said the youth were arrested by officers of the Nigerian Army in parts of Borno State, over allegations of being members of Boko Haram.

The group said thousands of young men and boys have been arrested by the military in Maiduguri and surrounding towns in Borno state since 2011, allegedly for being members of Boko Haram.

Their mothers demanded answers from the Nigerian authorities and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the military to release accurate information about those arrested.

"Almost all of those arrested were taken to the Giwa Barracks military detention facility in Maiduguri. No one currently knows their whereabouts," they said. "Some have been in detention since 2011 with no access to their families, lawyers or the outside world. Many have gone ‘missing’ or feared dead since they were arrested by the military at the height of the fight against Boko Haram."

Through the Jire Dole network, the mothers of some of these young men and boys have continued to demand information and justice. Many of the mothers have waited for years to hear what happened to their sons, none of whom were ever taken to court.

Hajja Gana is the leader of the mothers’ network.

Narrating her experience, she said: “Ever since my son was arrested in October 2011, I have been looking for him. I went to Giwa Barracks and saw him a week after his arrest. I filed a case in court, but nothing ever happened. I have never seen him again.

“We need to know what happened, even if our sons are dead. It is time that President Buhari’s government acknowledges that thousands of young men were arrested and died in military custody. They must release the list with all their names and give us mothers the closure we are begging for.”

Hajja Gana is among hundreds of women who came together in 2016 to form a network of survivors and relatives determined to campaign for truth, justice and reparation. The network has been growing bigger and louder, and almost eight years after she said her son was taken away by the military, she remains hopeful for information and justice.

“We know that President Buhari can do the right thing and give us justice. That is why we are today asking him to assist us,” Hajja Gana said.

Giwa Barracks is notorious for being a place of torture, starvation and death of detainees. Since 2011, several human rights organisations locally and internationally have reported on the mass deaths of detainees in the military-run facility, and as such, the mothers of Jire Dole have reason to fear the worst.

Over the years, the detention facility became synonymous to a human slaughterhouse where thousands of people were killed by gunshots wounds, starvation, torture, overcrowding in cells and outbreaks of diseases. In particular between 2012 and 2013, hundreds of detainees died every month. Residents along the Specialist Hospital road and those around the vicinity of the Specialist Hospital can vividly recall the frequent trips by military ambulance to deposit corpses at the mortuary, sometimes two or three times a day.

However, according to Jire Dole, March 14, 2014, stands out as a particular day in this recollection of horror. On this day, exactly five years ago today, Boko Haram made a daring attack on Giwa Barracks in broad daylight and hundreds of emaciated detainees were released from their cells. Some escaped and took the group’s offer to join them. Most others sought refuge in nearby homes. Maiduguri residents gave these former detainees shelter, food and clothes.

For many of the escaped detainees, it was their first proper food and water in months. And for many relatives, this was also the first time in years that they managed to find out what had
happened to their loved ones in detention. But the respite was short-lived. After the Boko Haram fighters left, the military and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) went on the rampage. In a city-wide man-hunt that ensued, hundreds of former detainees were assembled in various locations across Maiduguri and summarily executed in broad daylight.

Most mothers were unlucky and not reunited with their sons. Some recall rushing to the streets in the hope of seeing their children, only to be greeted by piles of corpses on the streets. No one was allowed to take away the bodies, even if they could identify their sons. It took a whole day to remove all the corpses from the streets for burial in mass graves. Some relatives only later found out about the death of their sons via a video that went viral, showing how soldiers and CJTF members executed recaptured detainees.

A mother of one of the young men killed in one of the videos said: “I know that my son was innocent, but they arrested him and took him, and they have killed him. There has been no justice. If there is injustice, it will carry on. Let everyone know what happened to my son. They have done injustice to him. The government should let the world know what they have done to my son.”

Five years later, there still has been no independent investigation into these mass killings. None of the relatives has been informed about what happened to their sons. The mothers fear that most of their sons have died a long time ago and are currently buried in unmarked graves across Maiduguri.

“It seems as if the military thinks nothing ever happened; as if it is permitted to arrest and kill young men without even determining if they are guilty. Well, we mothers don’t agree. We are clear: it is time for change. Firstly, the authorities should release a full list of all men and boys they have arrested and of those who died in military detention since 2011. Next, the military should make available the full list of detainees kept in Giwa Barracks on 14 March 2014,” said Hajja Gana.

“Year after year, a mother will wait for the return of her son. We will not stop until we know what happened to our children.”

This determination and resolve inspired Hajja Hamsatu Allamin, a peacemaker and women and children’s rights advocate in Maiduguri, to bring relatives and survivors together to form the Jire Dole (Power by Justice) network. Determined to amplify the women’s call for truth and reparation, she added her voice to the women’s call for information.

“We are pleading with the government to do what is right. They cannot bury the truth. Thousands of relatives are waiting for truth and reconciliation. Without truth, it will be very hard to achieve peace,” said Hajja Hamsatu Allamin.

“All former detainees have confirmed to us that the military keep detailed lists of those in detention and those who died. It is time the government ends the secrecy and tells the relatives what they ought to know: what happened to their loved ones.

“We know there are thousands more detainees who have been arrested in the name of the insurgency in Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi states. Like in Maiduguri, they were also never charged to court to determine if they have committed any crime. Their loved ones are also waiting. So, on 14 March this year, thousands of mothers and relatives in Nigeria will remember our missing loved ones. And we will continue to do so in the years to come.”

Jire Dole was joined by the Njakkuno Movement, another network of women who have survived military detention in Giwa Barracks. Together, they are campaigning to tell the world what happened to them and draw attention to the hidden truth of the ongoing fight against Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria. The women networks are complimenting each other in the fight for accountability. The testimonies from these former female detainees confirm what the mothers of Jire Dole already know: ‘Giwa Barracks is a place of death.’

The leader of the Njakkuno Movement said: “When they released us, the military instructed all of us to never speak about our time in detention. But that is not going to result in anything good. Look at the mothers of Jire Dole who have already waited for years for justice. We have decided to join them and strive together for accountability.”

Similarly, the Knifar Movement comprising more than 2,000 women, whose husbands are also being held in various military detention facilities, has lent its support to the calls from the mothers and are standing in solidarity to demand accountability.

In a statement of support to Jire Dole, Kellu Haruna, leader of the Knifar movement said: “Like the mothers of the missing men from Maiduguri, we are asking the government what happened to our husbands.”

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FAKE NEWS: Nasir El-Rufai NOT Involved In 'Ghastly Accident'

Nasir el-Rfai, Governor of Kaduna State, has not been involved in a "ghastly accident" as being claimed on social media, SaharaReporters can report.

Rumours of the Governor's supposed involvement in an accident began to spread on Thursday after Twitter user wrote: "Elrufai in a ghastly accident, his driver said to have died on the spot. No one knows the condition of the Kaduna Governor. Please pray for him no matter the differences we have politically."

"It's not true," a Kaduna State Government House source who had seen the Governor today told SaharaReporters.

El-Rufai himself is expected to personally address the rumour any moment from now.

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Probe Army’s Role In Bayelsa Electoral Violence, PDP Tells Buratai

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has appealed to Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, to investigate the role of the military in the violence that occurred in the state during the last general election.

The party alleged that some army officials directly participated in the elections, and called on the military to redeem its image by probing incidents linked to them.

Speaking at the party's secretariat in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Moses Cleopas, the PDP Chairman in the state, said the activities of the army deployed in Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw LGAs should be queried by the military.

He wondered why “the army kept sealed lips on the killing of two PDP members in Southern Ijaw LGA without provocation by soldiers”, just as he lamented that PDP members were prime targets during the elections and such situation is "totally unacceptable".

He further took a swipe at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, wondering why the commission declared three constituencies in Brass, Ogbia and Southern Ijaw, already won by PDP candidates, as inconclusive.

Cleopas, however, said the victory of some candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was temporary and vowed that his party would go to the Tribunal.

He said PDP won all the seats in areas where proper elections were conducted, while alleging that APC manipulated the process in cahoots with the military and INEC to win a few seats in the state.

"The PDP won everywhere in Bayelsa and in places where the APC has been declared winners. We will reclaim our mandate,” he said.

In Ekeremor Constituency 1, Cleopas said a chieftain of the APC invaded the area with soldiers and forced INEC officials to alter results under duress.

He continued: “The APC chieftain came with military men and doctored results and forced INEC to change results to the advantage of his party. This will not stand. Nembe 2 and 3, Bassambiri were taken over by hoodlums. They chased away all PDP members from the community. Policemen, who went there to maintain the peace, were driven out by APC in that area. They wrote results. There were no proper elections there.

"In the areas declared inconclusive, in Ogbia Constituency II, we were winning before military men came and carted away materials in Otuokpoti. Same in Brass Constituency II and Southern Ijaw 4; it was pure abracadabra.

"We are going back for the inconclusive polls, but a situation where armed military men were used to harass our people cannot be tolerated.”

The PDP chairman said he had a personal experience in which military men whisked away INEC officials, who were rounding off elections. He also named a senior military officer as the culprit.

"It is on this note that we call on the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the activities of his officers and men in Bayelsa, because it has become recurrent that army men now chase PDP members away from election points in favour of the APC," he said.

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Nine Things We Know About The School Building Collapse In Lagos

The Incident

Around about 11am on Wednesday, a four-storeyed building containing residential buildings, a nursery and primary school as well as a shop complex on the ground floor, collapsed at Ita Faji on the Lagos Island, killing and trapping many people inside.

The building, which was described by residents and rescue workers, as "very old" and "marked for demolition since last year", came crashing after giving signs of fatigue.

A middle-aged woman simply identified as Medinat, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said: "The government should come and demolish all these houses in my neighbourhood; this one that collapsed, they marked it since last year but they cleaned the mark by the government and continued staying there, even the government never came back."

She added: "Do you know that even this morning, this house was shedding debris before it..." She didn't finish, though; she was hushed from further speaking to us by other women who restrained from "saying too much".

Rescue operations

Soon after the collapse, local residents started evacuating victims. "We had done like 25 before the government team came," said Major, one of the dust-stained young people who spoke to SaharaReporters helping in the rescue effort.

As if to confirm, the Lagos State government tweeted on it's official Twitter handle @followlasg: "Ongoing rescue operations by the Lagos State Rescue Unit at the collapsed building at Ita-faji, Lagos Island" at precisely 12:28PM, almost two hours after the initial incident.

Governor Ambode's Very Brief Visit

As rescue efforts went on in the scorching sun and without much luck, outgoing Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, drove in with his security team to assess the situation.

He was greeted by some emergency rescue officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) who briefed him about ongoing efforts for about two minutes.

Shortly after the briefing, Ambode made to enter his car but he was asked by SaharaReporters and other newsmen present to address the press. He agreed, some metres away from the scene.

Speaking with newsmen, Ambode said: "I have been told it is an old and illegal building. It is unfortunate that this happened. Rescue efforts are still ongoing, we appeal to residents to allow rescue efforts go on smoothly".

And with that he melted into the crowd and drove off but not without mild drama from a concerned male resident of the area who at the top of his voice beckoned on the Governor to "do something to end this nonsense".

The Governor's appearance at the scene lasted a paltry seven minutes or thereabouts.

Condolences

As shocking pictures and videos of the rescue operation saturated social media, so did condolences and sympathies. President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari tweeted: "I’m extremely saddened by the news of the collapsed building in Itafaaji area of Lagos. It touches one to lose precious lives in any kind of mishap, particularly those so young and tender. May God grant everyone affected by this sad incident fortitude and succour."

He called on the Lagos State Government to "do all that is needful, so that such tragic developments do not recur".

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor-Elect of Lagos State, tweeted @jidesanwoolu: "My deep condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives as a result of the unfortunate building collapse at Itafaji. I urge people to cooperate with officials working on rescue efforts. My prayers are with the affected families and the school management."

Rescue Deficit

As rescue efforts got underway, hours passed with little luck, most of it owing to the lack of basic equipment such as flashlights to see through bored holes and crevices.

There was also an urgent call for wrappers by rescue worker in order to form a tight rope cord in the absence of actual ropes. The response: flying scarves and wrappers from spectators.

Hospital Experience

At the Island General Hospital in Marina, worried family and friends littered the parking area, reception, mortuary, wards and anywhere they could get word from, on their relatives currently receiving treatment.

SaharaReporters observed that anytime an ambulance pulled in, the people rallied, some with hope on their faces and others with hands on their heads, waiting for the door to fling open with some news of their loved one.

SaharaReporters counted 41 names pasted by the hospital management of stable victims in their custody.

Federal Government's Response

The FG has sent a delegation of the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA (NEMA), led by Air Commodore Akugbe Iyamu, to the scene of the collapse to ascertain the level of damage.

Speaking to journalists after assessment, he said: "The incident is noted and investigations will be launched to forestall future occurences." He observed with dismay that "locals didn't allow rescue efforts go on as fast as we would have wanted it to".

He said the agency would collaborate with LASEMA to provide relief materials for the victims as rescue operations come to an end.

Casualty Toll

Official figures are yet to be released by NEMA. However, SaharaReporters estimates about 19 people dead with over 41 survivors still receiving treatment.

Current Situation

As of the time of filing this account of events witnessed by SaharaReporters, rescue had come to an end, and the process of clearing the rubble had commenced.

At the Island General Hospital, Marina, the crowd is growing, filled with family and concerned Nigerians who have either come to be with their affected relatives or to collect the body of their dead.

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INEC Presents Certificates Of Return To Senators-Elect

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificates of return to all the senators-elect, who emerged in the just-concluded general elections.

The event was witnessed by families and friends of the lawmakers-elect, and held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Thursday morning.

Presenting the certificates, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, urged the lawmakers of the Ninth National Assembly to commence work on the electoral reform on time to enhance the efficiency of the work of the commission ahead of the 2023 elections.

Yakubu said this would facilitate the commission's roadmap to deliver on its mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

Rochas Okorocha, the outgoing Governor of Imo State and the senator-elect representing Imo West senatorial district, was absent at the event following the removal of his name from the list by INEC.

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Tears As Nigerians Extol Virtues Of Pius Adesanmi In Abuja

Tears flowed freely as hundreds of mourners on Wednesday gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja to extol the virtues of the late Pius Adesanmi, the renowned Nigerian writer, who was one of the victims of the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that occurred last Sunday.

A candlelight gathering was organised by friends of the deceased, and was attended by Nigerians from all walks of life, including Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The mourners were clad in customised black T-Shirts on which was printed the portrait of the deceased.

Sam Amadi, a human rights lawyer and activist, referred to Adesanmi as worthy to be celebrated, noting that he lived an exemplary life.

He added that Adesanmi's statement of writing for archaeology is an indictment against all Nigerians, adding that Adesanmi must have been disappointed with what he called the “psychology of slavery”. Describing Adesanmi as both optimistic and pessimistic, he said he was an intellectual culture critic, who spoke the truth with a kind heart.

"He was thoroughly intellectual and thoroughly practical. Like Gani said before he died that ‘Nigerians will know my worth when I die’, I think we will know more of Pius now that he is no more," Amadi said.

In his remarks, Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo described him as extraordinary, exemplary and consummate author and critic, who put his knowledge at the service of Nigeria and the world of humanity.

"It is a tragic and monumental loss. The likes of him don't come along every day. What is remarkable is that he seems to have foreseen his death. At this point, those who pay attention to social media would have seen on the eve of that ill-fated flight that he posted Psalm 139: 9-10. The only thing we can say for the likes of him is that they come, they lend us their brilliance and unmatchable things they possess for a brief, while they illuminate our lives and they depart because their work is done,” he said.

Adesanmi had posted a Bible verse on his social media platform before he embarked on the journey which read: "If I take the wings of the morning, dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hands shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me.”

On his part, Saraki said: "I find out that he comes from Kogi, which was at one time part of Kwara. He studied at the University of Ilorin and I decided to come here and join others to pay tribute to him. As I was leaving my house, somebody said ‘Sir, did you know that he was very critical of you?’ And I said he was talented to air his views. We are not enemies but we shared different views and we must appreciate his talents. He had his views; he had his wish about some of us. We can learn from those things and that is why I have come here to also join in paying tribute."

Aisha Yesufu, Co-Convener of BringBackOurGirls, said Adesanmi fought for the emancipation of Nigerians citizens through his works. She also noted that the office of the citizens is the highest in the land and there is need to use the power of that office for the good of the nation.

Also present at the event were Senator Dino Melaye, human right activists, writers, civil society organisations, journalists and well wishers.

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BREAKING: Court Restrains INEC From Conducting Supplementary Governorship Election In Adamawa

A state High Court sitting in Yola has issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State.

Justice Abdulaziz Waziri of State High Court 4 gave the order following a motion ex parte filed by Movement of Restoration for Defence of Democracy (MRPD), claiming that it's party logo was excluded from the ballot paper for the March 9 governorship election conducted in the state.

However, a seasoned constitutional lawyer, Sunday Wugiri, told SaharaReporters that "though the order is valid for now, the court lacks jurisdiction to grant it”.

“Only a Federal High Court can entertain any matter that concerns federal institutions like INEC,” he added.

At a press briefing in Yola on Wednesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused Governor Jibrilla Bindow of planning to use the MRPD to scuttle the supplementary election through unnecessary legal bottlenecks.

"It has come to our attention the desperate moves by the leadership of Adamawa state government to upturn the mandate of the people,” it said.

“One of the alleged moves is to lobby the presidency to cause the State High Court to slam INEC with an order of injunction restraining the electoral body from conducting the supplementary election and cancel the entire elections.

"They intend to use a governorship Candidate who allegedly claimed that the logo of his party was omitted on the ballot in the last governorship election to file a case before the state High Court.”

However, Kashim Gaidam, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC reacted thus: “For your information court orders cannot stop elections.

“Having said that, only INEC at the national office, can respond to any matter involving court orders.”

Professor Andrew Haruna declared the Adamawa State governorship election inconclusive, citing the slim margin of 32,476 votes between while cancelled ballots amounted to 40,988.

Ahmed Umar Fintiri, candidate of the PDP had polled 367,471 votes, while the incumbent governor, Jibrilla Bindow of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 334,995 votes.

INEC has scheduled the supplementary election for March 23.

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BREAKING: Court Restrains INEC From Conducting Supplementary Governorship Election In Adamawa

A state High Court sitting in Yola has issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State.

However, a seasoned constitutional lawyer, Sunday Wugiri, told SaharaReporters that "though the order is valid for now, the court lacks jurisdiction to grant it”.

“Only a Federal High Court can entertain any matter that concerns federal institutions like INEC,” he added.

"It has come to our attention the desperate moves by the leadership of Adamawa state government to upturn the mandate of the people,” it said.

However, Kashim Gaidam, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC reacted thus: “For your information court orders cannot stop elections.

“Having said that, only INEC at the national office, can respond to any matter involving court orders.”

Professor Andrew Haruna declared the Adamawa State governorship election inconclusive, citing the slim margin of 32,476 votes between while cancelled ballots amounted to 40,988.

Ahmed Umar Fintiri, candidate of the PDP had polled 367,471 votes, while the incumbent governor, Jibrilla Bindow of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 334,995 votes.

INEC has scheduled the supplementary election for March 23.

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Three Drown On Election Day In Delta

Three persons have been confirmed to have lost their lives along the Benin River in Warri North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State on Saturday March 9, 2019 when the boat they were travelling in capsized on their way home, after casting their votes during the governorship and house of assembly elections.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that the boat, which was carrying about 23 passengers, including the driver, capsized around Ebrohimi waterway after colliding with a fishing boat along the Benin River, while heading for Koko on Saturday night.

Efforts by sympathisers to rescue all the passengers on board were not successful, as three people died.

An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that: "The three persons who lost their lives had earlier been declared missing but were later found dead in the creeks of Warri North where the incident took place. They were all returning from where they went to cast their votes for candidates of their choice when the ugly incident occurred."

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Uduaghan, immediate past governor of Delta State and the Delta South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has condoled with the families of the deceased.

Uduaghan, who hails from the LGA, said he was saddened by the incident, stressing that the deceased persons paid the supreme price for the nation’s democracy.

The former governor, however, noted that more casualties would have been recorded but for the quick intervention by various persons to rescue the victims.

“Our beloved three brothers died in their quest to ensure that the votes of our people in the riverine area count in the March 9 election. This is to tell Nigerians the risk our people, particularly in Delta South, most often go through during electioneering period to vote for the candidates of their choice. I commiserate with the family of the deceased and the people of Warri North,” he said.

He also sympathised with victims still receiving treatment at various hospitals in the locality and wished them speedy recovery.

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