By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

An explosion suspected to be a bomb has rocked an Islamiyyah school in the Kuchibiyu Community of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, killing one student and injuring four others.

A report by Premium Times said the incident occurred around noon on Monday, January 6, 2025.

The deafening explosion reportedly sent shockwaves through the quiet community located approximately 42 kilometres from Abuja’s city centre.

Emergency response teams, including the police bomb disposal squad, promptly arrived at the scene, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care.

The report quoted a security source to have disclosed that the deceased student, whose identity had yet to be confirmed as of press time, was reportedly carrying a substance suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) when it detonated.

The explosion caused injuries to other students and widespread panic in and around the school premises.

Authorities at the school were unavailable for comment, and the Federal Capital Territory Police Command had yet to issue an official statement as of press time.

Repeated calls to the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, did not connect.

The affected students were said to have resumed school just three days ago, on January 3.

A fire outbreak in Sokoto metropolis has caused the death of four persons, a daughter to Secretary to the State Government of Sokoto, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, and her three children.

The deceased mother was also the wife of the Permanent Secretary of the Sokoto State Ministry of Sports and Youths Development, Muhammadu Yusuf Bello.

Only the husband survived the fire which affected the entire 6-bedroom flat while family was sleeping.

Personnel of the state fire service were unable to put out the fire as it had already consumed the house before their arrival.

The remains of the 4 deceased members of the family are slated for burial at Sheikh Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo Mosque, Sifawa, the family home of the Sokoto State SSG.

The state deputy governor, Idris Mohammed Gobir, members of the state executive council, APC stalwarts, friends and well-wishers have been trooping to Sifawa for burial rites and condolence.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Aba Power, an electricity distribution company in Nigeria, has announced a significant increase in electricity tariffs for its customers in Abia State, with rates rising by over 50%. The adjustment, which took effect on January 1, 2025, has been approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Gists9ja reports that the revised tariff structure was shared with customers through a notice posted on the company’s official X account. Under the new rates, customers in Band A feeders will now be charged between ₦219.70 and ₦241.45 per kilowatt-hour, a substantial increase from the previous rate of ₦99/kWh.

Customers in Band B will face rates ranging from ₦180.77 to ₦203/kWh, while those in Band C will pay between ₦145 and ₦205/kWh.

Aba DisCo explained that this tariff increase is necessary to address the challenges posed by the prevailing macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company noted, “This adjustment will enable us to cushion the effects of recent macroeconomic developments on our ability to continue delivering high-quality service to our customers, in compliance with regulatory standards.”

The new tariff structure is part of ongoing efforts to maintain the company’s operations and ensure continued service delivery despite economic challenges.