Metro
1,664 displaced as flood ravages Sokoto communities
No fewer than 1,664 persons have been displaced as flood sacked four communities in the Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
A statement signed and made available to newsmen in the state on Sunday by the Information Officer, Sokoto Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Ghani, said the flood was due to a recent downpour in the area.
He said the flood, apart from the high number of displaced persons, also destroyed about 779 hectares of farmland in the process.
Some of the affected communities ravaged by the flood included Dantudu, Balakozo, Gidan Tudu and Tsitse towns, among others.
According to the report compiled at Dan Tudu village, 62 houses and 71 households were affected.
At Balakozo Village (Tsitse ward), 33 houses and 48 households were affected, while a total of 38 houses and 52 households were affected at Gidan Tudu Village.
At Tsitse town, a total of 68 houses and 89 households were affected.
“The recent downpour of 17th July 2024 left many residents of Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State homeless and displaced.
“It also destroyed several numbers of hectares of farmlands and destroyed a high number of sheep and goats.
“This was discovered during an assessment conducted on Saturday at Gada by NEMA and SEMA officials in the state.
“The total number of people affected by the flood incidence at Dan Tudu, Balakozo, Gidan Tudu and Tsitse town is 1,664,” the report stated.
It added that the assessment team found that some numbers of livestock, including sheep and goats, were reportedly missing due to the downpour.
Meanwhile, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, has said proper waste disposal and flood preparedness are crucial for community well-being and environmental health.
The NEMA DG, represented by the agency’s Head of Operations, Ekiti and Ondo states, Mr Kofoworola Sholeye, said improper waste disposal could trigger flood disasters and had adverse health consequences leading to significant damage to property and loss of lives.
Umar spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday, during a one-day awareness campaign and roadshow organised by the NEMA, in collaboration with the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, government agencies and relevant stakeholders.
“This initiative is to sensitise and create awareness among Ekiti people about the expected heavy rainfalls predicted by the Seasonal Climate Predictions, Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Annual Flood Outlook, which listed Ekiti among the states that would likely experience heavy rainfall and potential flooding this year,” Umar said.
The NEMA boss said flooding and the attendant losses could be mitigated “if all stakeholders stand up to the challenges and come up with the measures that would help to enlighten the people of Ekiti State on proper waste management, as many have cultivated the habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse over the years.
“It is necessary to always promote and carry out activities that would safeguard our environment by ensuring the rapid enlightenment of the general public on the need to desist from dumping refuse indiscriminately.”
Umar lauded the commitment of Ekiti SEMA and other disaster management agencies in the state as she assured of NEMA’s willingness to sustain the synergy with the state government to explore long-term and more sustainable solutions to both natural and human-induced disasters.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr Abayomi Opeyemi, urged Ekiti residents to adhere to the state environmental laws by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of waste and erecting structures on river banks and flood plains
Also, the General Manager of SEMA, Mr Oludare Asaolu, appreciated NEMA for the initiatives and collaborative efforts to avert flooding and the attendant destruction of lives and properties in the state.
Asaolu lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for approving funds for the dredging of waterways in high-risk zones across the state, to prevent flooding and its attendant risks to lives and properties even before the NiMET weather forecasts.
The Director General of Ekiti State Waste Management Board, Mr Olasunkami Onipede, urged residents to properly dispose of their waste at all times, saying the state government had placed Dino bins at strategic locations in the state capital for easy disposal and collection of waste.
Metro
Nigeria Government Reintegrates 5,000 Former Insurgents
The National Counter-Terrorism Centre, operating under the Office of the National Security Adviser, has reported the successful reunification of over 5,000 former Boko Haram fighters with their families.
According to the Centre, none of the reintegrated individuals have returned to extremist activities after completing a six-month deradicalization program.
Ambassador Mairo Musa Abbas, head of the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) initiative, made this announcement during the second day of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.
Speaking in a panel discussion titled “Managing Boko Haram Exits and the Demobilization of Armed Groups,” Abbas emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach among Lake Chad Basin governors to address common security challenges.
She highlighted that the Operation Safe Corridor program, designed for the deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration of ex-fighters, has successfully reintegrated over 5,000 individuals into society.
“Through the Operation Safe Corridor program, we have deradicalized more than 5,000 former Boko Haram combatants and reunited them with their families. They are now applying the skills they acquired during the six-month deradicalization process to sustain themselves within their communities,” Abbas stated.
She also noted that the National Orientation Agency (NOA), present in all 774 local government areas across Nigeria, along with traditional and religious leaders, is actively monitoring the reintegration process to ensure the former fighters’ successful adaptation to society.
Additionally, she praised the “Borno Model”, a state-led reintegration strategy that complements the federal government’s peace initiatives.
“The Borno Model was initially seen as a necessity, but it has proven to be highly effective. Many former insurgents have been successfully reunited with their families,” she said.
Abbas called on the governors of the Lake Chad region and other stakeholders to harmonize their reintegration efforts to ensure a unified and effective approach.
Metro
Yhemolee Gifts Cash to Lady Who Marched to Appreciate Father After Her NYSC
A Nigerian lady has taken to social media to thank Yhemolee for gifting her cash following a viral video of her marching and saluting her father after she completed her NYSC.
The lady had shared a video of herself saluting her father for his support after her one-year national youth service.
The emotional video went viral on social media.
Yhemolee who was moved by the video decided to appreciate and support the lady.
He gifted her an undisclosed sum of money.
Check out reactions that trailed this:
Femi David 🇳🇬 🇬🇧 said: “You this girl you wan dey make hard man like me dey emotional o 😢”
watermelon boy 🍉🍉🍉 remarked: “send me 2k from the money abeg me too need help”
💍❤️ stated: “You receive money you don’t know what to do 😂 it’s well …… congratulations 🎉”
Cephas 🤍💎🍀✨ remarked: “When the time is right the Lord will make it happen”
Giftberry✨🦋🎀💕 wrote: “Bia this lady no Dey make me cry naw.😭❤️”
Watch video below:
https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7465371464998636294?refer=embed
https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7368205003565107973?refer=embed
Metro
EFCC, bidders disagree over car auction
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has tackled the protesting bidders alleging irregularities in the car auctioning recently held in different locations across the country.
This development is coming on the heels of the conclusion of the exercise, which lasted between Monday, January 20 and Monday, January 27, 2025.
Upon conclusion, bidders shared screenshots on various social media showing outrageous amounts as bids, leaving room for many of them to back out on some of the deals.
The bidding ranged from N1 billion to N330 billion for mid-range and averagely sophisticated Lexus jeeps and SUVs.
Reacting, one user who identified as Daniel Momoh on X.com shared his frustrations, saying, “Dear @officialEFCC, it is a pity that you and your auctioneers cheated us out of a legitimate process we engaged in yesterday where I won four different vehicles, namely: Toyota Venza – 2,670,000; Lexus ES350 – 2,000,000; Lexus IS250 – 2,520,000 and Toyota – Camry – 1,500,000.
“I woke up this morning to see that my name has been replaced with another name, which blocked me from assessing the website via the account I opened before the bidding.”
Another user, who identified as #Kennylekel, wrote, “EFCC, the website for the official auction for the cars, suddenly brought out error 502 about 43 minutes to the end of the auction!! We hope it is not intentional to select your preferred bidders. I have been bidding since 11 am. Kindly respond.
One CIA on X.com also said, “This is just to fulfil all righteousness and to do some damage control. The cars listed here have been sold to their staff and cronies for very small sums. If you eventually buy it over from them, you’ll also be suspected and arrested for being a fraudster.”
“The auction you conducted yesterday was a sham! In a bid to rig the system, the incompetent auctioneers you engaged allowed a bid of N350,000,000,000 for a Lexus RX 350 Jeep. It’s not a glitch. It’s a deliberate attempt to gate-keep others from bidding,” a user who identifies as Baron El’Sama opined.
Also, a user on X.com said, “I’ve just seen magic happen right before my eyes. A C300 with lot number ADC/BEN/AU/98 that I bid on and won at N5,570,001 just vanished from the auction site. EFCC, una well done.”
In his remark, a user on Facebook who identifies as Aromeh Joshua said, “EFCC auction: Checked two of the Lagos Auctioneers, and their website is (Resource Limit is Reached) temporarily unavailable. A few were hurriedly put together.”
Another user who wrote with name, Hafiz Bawa, on X.com wrote, “Dear @officialEFCC, I am reporting alleged fraudulent activity earlier today during the motor vehicle auction that raises serious concerns about fairness and integrity. It appears that the highest bidder and a “short bidder” colluded to manipulate the auction.
“The highest bidder placed excessively high bids to inflate the price, knowing they would not pay. Under the auction terms, this allowed the short bidder, who had the second-highest bid, to win at an inflated price. This tactic disadvantaged legitimate bidders and exploited the rules, undermining the auction’s fairness. I urge an immediate investigation into this matter.”
“I have seen seven people come out here to accuse the @officialEFCC of committing fraud through this auction. I have yet to see anyone come out to say they actually got the car they bid for. And yet, the institution isn’t addressing the crime that has been carried out. We need to do better,” one user who identifies as Tchalla Kingsman noted.
“Those that are alleging non-transparency are just being economical with the truth. The auction process was electronic and open bidding. There is no way of any extraneous influence or intervention. The allgation is unfounded, it can neither be supported by fact nor logic. Everybody that participated gave a remark that they were able to get; some even said they were outbid.”
Reacting to the allegations in a telephone conversation, EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the agency has no hand in the process because the auction procedure was handed over to government-licenced auctioneers.
He maintained that some people could have bid outrageous money to frustrate the process, stressing that it might be deliberate sabotage.
“It is betweeen the auctioneers and the bidding public, it has nothing to do with us. We did not interfere in any of the processes at all,” he noted.
He further challenged the public to bring proof of compromise, adding that not even his close ones could get his influence to secure a vehicle in the auctioning process.
Recall that last week Monday, the commission listed over 850 cars forfeited to the Federal Government for auction across different locations in the country. (https://punchng.com/efcc-to-auction-850-recovered-vehicles/)
The cars, ranging from luxury vehicles to mid-range Toyota Camry, were recovered by the EFCC in the course of investigations into various financial crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime.
EFCC explained that the auction was in line with the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery & Management) Act, 2022.
The auction, according to the statement, is scheduled to be held in various locations across the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, and will be executed by the EFCC in collaboration with appointed auctioneers.
According to the statement, the commission has called on interested members of the public to participate in the auction, promising that the process will be transparent and fair.
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