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Residents of Efut Efio-Ene in the Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State have called for government intervention to salvage the area from devastating flood.

The community linked the flooding to the open water drainage channel directed into the area from various drains in the Calabar metropolis, noting that the development has resulted in persistent flooding of residential compounds and access roads, while structurally weakening and damaging buildings, destroying properties and killing residents.

Speaking on Tuesday in Calabar, Clan Head of Efut Efio-Ene community, His Royal Highness, Muri Ekong Umo Ekpo 2, lamented that the flooding has caused the destruction of household properties and personal belongings, increased health risks arising from stagnant and contaminated floodwater, as well as disruption to transportation and movement within the community.

He said, “We are facing lot of problems in this community because of flooding. This is because the whole water channelled throughout the whole Calabar and environs come directly to our area and the government have never done anything about it. And this flood now destroy houses, properties and contaminate our drinking water and increase health risks.”

The monarch further stated that the last time the drainage system was cleared was during the administration of Governor Donald Duke.

He called for immediate desilting of the drains before the peak of the rainy season to prevent further escalation of the damage and suffering within the community.

The monarch warned that the situation had become alarming and required immediate emergency intervention to avert impending disaster, calling on the federal authorities, including National Emergency Management Agency, Cross River State Government and waste management agencies to urgently intervene and stop the devastating water discharge into the community.

The Youth leader of the community, Princewill Lawrence, said, “Residents now live in constant fear. Heavy rainfall in the coming weeks may result in catastrophic flooding, collapse of weak structures, destruction of livelihoods, and possible loss of lives”.

He further appealed to the governments at all levels to conduct a technical inspection of the affected areas, deploy emergency drain control and flood mitigation measures, and construct appropriate discharge channels, retention systems, and flood-control infrastructure capable of safely managing storm water.

Women leader of the community, Obongawan Nanke Bassey, appealed that immediate action should be taken to ameliorate the situation.

“This is therefore a passionate appeal for urgent government intervention before the peak of the rainy season further escalates the damage and suffering within our community,” she added.

Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Antigha Gill, while reacting to the situation, said government agencies are making efforts to address the situation.

“We have made efforts to draw the attention of the authorities to this issue. I remember, we have written to the state government on this matter and they have mandated the Ministry of Environment to take action”, he said.

Gill further disclosed that the community had served the agency with various letters appealing for intervention, stressing that his agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Calabar Urban Development Authority would soon address the situation.

“We know that rainy season is here; two weeks ago, the community send me reminder of on the serious flooding there. We will collaborate Ministry of Environment and CUDA for action”, he said.

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Teachers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ondo State on Tuesday staged a solidarity rally in Akure, the state capital, asking the Federal and Oyo State Governments to secure the unconditional and immediate release of the teachers and pupils abducted in Oyo State.

The rally, which commenced at the Teachers’ House and proceeded to the Governor’s Office, drew teachers, union leaders, and education stakeholders carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Teachers’ Teach in Peace”, “Secure Every School, Save Every Dream”, “An attack on teachers is an attack on education” among others.

Some suspected kidnappers abducted 39 students and seven teachers in Ahoro and Esinele Communities in Orire District of Oyo State. The Oyo attack also claimed the lives of a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, a motorcyclist, and some security operatives during rescue efforts.

Speaking during the rally, the Chairman of NUT Ondo State, Comrade Ayodele Samuel Leke, expressed profound shock, sadness, and deep concern over the recent abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State.

The State Chairman described the rally as a one-day peaceful protest intended to send a message to government authorities, saying that attacks on teachers and students threaten access to education, particularly in rural areas.

He condemned the unfortunate incident as a painful reminder of the growing insecurity confronting our nation and the increasing threats to the safety of learners, teachers, and educational institutions across Nigeria.

His words, ” We strongly condemn this reprehensible act and call on the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, and all relevant security agencies to rise to the challenge by taking urgent and decisive measures to secure the immediate and unconditional release of all the victims”.

Ayodele lamented the killing of the teacher and the continued attacks on educators and students, describing the situation as disturbing and detrimental to the nation’s educational development.

While praying for the safe return of the victims, the Chairman stated that the Ondo State Wing of NUT stands in solidarity with the affected families, colleagues, and the good people of Oyo State during this difficult period.

The NUT called on all stakeholders and the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to further strengthen and redesign the security architecture of Ondo State to prevent similar occurrences.

He stressed: “As a Union committed to the welfare and safety of teachers and learners, we declare unequivocally that enough is enough. We say no to the kidnapping of teachers, pupils, and other innocent citizens. Our schools and learning environments must be safe, secure, and conducive to quality education.

Comrade Ayodele urged all Nigerians to remain united, vigilant, and supportive during this difficult period, saying that together we can overcome these challenges and build a society where schools are safe havens for learning and growth.

He assured teachers in the state of his leadership commitment to their safety while advocating for the protection of teachers, learners, and all stakeholders in the education sector.

“Learning stops where insecurity begins. Protect education from criminals; teachers deserve security, not fear. The government must wake up and act now.”

Addressing the protesting teachers, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters and Special Duties, Comrade Bola Taiwo, commended the peaceful protest conducted by the leadership of NUT in Ondo State, saying there’s nothing wrong with solidarity with their colleagues in Oyo State.

He reminded the teachers of the efforts and measures put in place by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure the lives and property of citizens and residents of Ondo State are safe.

Taiwo added that the State Government will continue to prioritise the safety of teachers, pupils, and others, saying that since the assumption of office of Governor Aiyedatiwa, his government has been teacher-friendly with favourable policies and programmes.

“Under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Amotekun Security Network has recruited more personnel, made donations of vehicles to security agencies, and had cordial collaboration with security heads, among others, which have helped secure the state.”

He charged every resident of the state to be security-conscious and provide vital information to security agencies at all times.

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No fewer than 17 people, including seven visitors who had travelled for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, were reportedly killed when bandits attacked Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Residents said the attackers, numbering in the hundreds and riding on motorcycles, invaded the community on Sunday morning, firing indiscriminately, looting shops and forcing villagers to flee into nearby forests.

According to local sources, the assailants were believed to have moved from Bagega village in Zamfara State through Barayar Zaki in Bukkuyum Local Government Area before spending the night in Gizazza village ahead of the attack.

A resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the gunmen entered Dangulbi between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and immediately opened fire on residents.

“They started shooting as soon as they arrived. People ran in different directions in search of safety, but 17 people lost their lives during the attack,” the source said.

Among those killed were Munde, Nagoma, Abdullahi, Danbala, Munden Chana, Muhammadu Dan Amo, Hassan, Abubakar Danbaba and Yidi Bafillace.

The resident disclosed that five of the victims were visitors from Adarawa in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, while two others had travelled from Gidan Gambo in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State for the Sallah celebrations.

According to residents, the bandits remained in the community for several hours after the attack, preventing villagers from recovering and burying the dead until late in the evening.

“They stayed until about 7 p.m., making it impossible for anyone to come out. Funeral prayers were eventually conducted after 9:30 p.m. when they left,” the source added.

Residents further alleged that the attackers looted about 20 shops before moving through nearby communities, including Kukoki and Birnin Magaji, where several people were reportedly abducted.

The abductees were said to have escaped later in the night after a heavy rainstorm created confusion among their captors.

Many residents have since fled Dangulbi and surrounding communities, seeking refuge in safer areas across Tureta, Shagari, Gummi and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas.

Locals appealed to both the federal and state governments to urgently deploy additional security personnel and improve road infrastructure in the area, arguing that poor access roads often delay security responses and leave communities vulnerable to repeated attacks.

The latest incident adds to a series of deadly attacks that have recently plagued communities in the area, raising concerns over the worsening security situation and its potential impact on farming activities ahead of the rainy season.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed he was aware of the incident, adding that security operatives were working to restore normalcy and contain the situation.