Metro

Rescue teams and divers have intensified efforts to recover victims’ remains and locate the black box of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, one week ago. The ATR-42 aircraft plunged into a swamp on October 5, killing all 25 people on board. The recovery operation has so far yielded fragments of the victims’ remains and damaged aircraft parts, making identification difficult. Unconfirmed reports from an operator involved in the search indicate that part of the pilot’s body was recovered from the wreckage. Rescuers are now focusing on locating the aircraft’s black box, which could provide vital information about the cause of the crash. However, the muddy terrain and deep waters continue to hamper recovery efforts. Technicians are also assembling additional floating equipment for amphibious excavators to improve access to the crash site. Meanwhile, residents have raised concerns about possible water pollution following reports of aviation fuel and oil in the surrounding river. The waterway serves as a major source of water for the Igbokoda community. The community’s traditional ruler, Afolabi Odidiomo, had earlier expressed concern about the potential contamination and the difficulties involved in recovering the victims’ remains.

The Enugu State Police Command has ordered an investigation into a viral video showing the alleged abuse of a 60-year-old woman, Chinenye Okonkwo, in Nkanu East Local Government Area. The police say preliminary findings indicate that the woman was allegedly forced to eat human faeces over accusations of witchcraft and causing the death of her husband’s brother’s wife. Police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, says officers have visited the victim and obtained her statement. Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has condemned the alleged abuse and directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to identify and arrest those responsible. The suspects are currently at large, while investigations continue. The police commissioner has also warned against jungle justice and other forms of self-help, assuring that anyone found guilty will face the full weight of the law.

A 55-year-old motorist has escaped unhurt after a train collided with his Honda car at the PWD railway crossing in Ikeja, Lagos. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority says the train was travelling towards Agege when the collision occurred on Friday. The impact badly damaged the car, but no injuries or deaths were reported. LASTMA officials and security personnel rescued the driver and cleared the wreckage from the tracks, allowing the train to continue its journey. However, traffic congestion persisted around the PWD axis following the incident. The cause of the collision has not been established. LASTMA has urged motorists to obey railway safety rules and avoid crossing the tracks when a train is approaching or in motion. The crossing has witnessed previous fatal accidents, including the 2023 collision involving a Lagos State Government staff bus that killed six people.

Twenty prospective NYSC members and a civilian abducted in Imo State have been rescued by security agencies. The victims were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, at Amakohia Ubi Village following a joint intelligence-led operation involving the military, DSS, police and other security agencies. The 20 prospective corps members were abducted while travelling along the Onitsha-Owerri Road on October 1. The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the rescue, saying the victims have been taken for medical assessment and necessary care. Meanwhile, security agencies say efforts are ongoing to arrest those responsible for the abduction and bring them to justice. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, commended the security agencies for their coordinated efforts, while the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, visited the rescued victims at a DSS facility in Owerri.

More than 70 people have been rescued after a passenger boat capsized at the Buruku crossing point on the Benue River in Benue State. The incident occurred on Saturday morning as passengers from Gboko Local Government Area were travelling across the river to attend a burial ceremony. The boat reportedly capsized after its engine failed, with the local government chairman saying the vessel was overloaded and some passengers were unfamiliar with navigating the river. About six people are still reportedly missing, while rescue teams continue searching the area. Benue State authorities said strong water currents contributed to the accident after the boat was swept into an abandoned barge, causing it to overturn. The state government has directed boat operators and their union to assist with the ongoing search and rescue operation. Authorities have also urged passengers to comply with maritime safety regulations, including the use of life jackets, to prevent further accidents.

The Federal Government has evacuated another 105 Nigerians from South Africa following reported xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans. The returnees, made up of 82 adults and 23 children, arrived in Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the latest evacuation is the 13th consular evacuation from South Africa since the exercise began in June. It brings the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to 1,821, with 1,388 of them fully funded by the Federal Government. The ministry says the evacuation of 100 returnees was funded through a donation from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, while the remaining five were supported by a private Nigerian donor. The Federal Government says it remains concerned about attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and will continue diplomatic efforts to improve their safety. It has also urged Nigerians living in South Africa to remain vigilant and maintain contact with Nigerian diplomatic missions for assistance when necessary.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, says more than 3.7 million people are internally displaced in Nigeria, while over 140,000 refugees and asylum seekers are also in the country. The UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Arjun Jain, disclosed this during a meeting with the Minister of Budget, Atiku Bagudu, in Abuja. Jain said the agency is working to move beyond traditional humanitarian assistance by promoting sustainable livelihoods and private-sector investment in communities affected by displacement. He said UNHCR is proposing a five-year initiative known as LEAP, which aims to attract 10 billion dollars in investment across 10 states affected by displacement and fragility. The agency is also exploring financing options with banks and development institutions to provide affordable funding for farmers, displaced people and other vulnerable communities. UNHCR says the initiative will bring together government, private investors and development partners to create jobs, strengthen local economies and support displaced and host communities. The agency also highlighted its partnership with Tropical General Investments, which aims to support more than 5,000 farmers and create over 10,000 jobs in Benue and Cross River states.

Darkness has returned to the Longbridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as more solar-powered streetlights are reportedly removed by suspected vandals. A recent inspection found that only about 20 streetlights were still standing roughly three kilometres into the bridge, with a few others remaining at both ends. This comes weeks after about 168 solar-powered streetlights were reported missing from the approximately five-kilometre bridge. Residents say the continued vandalism is raising concerns about security, particularly at night when most sections of the bridge are now in darkness. The Longbridge has previously been linked to attacks on motorists, especially those whose vehicles break down on the highway after dark. The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Michael Komolafe, says police patrols may have been affected after a patrol vehicle was involved in an accident, leaving one officer hospitalised. He says there is currently no confirmed plan to replace the vandalised lights and stresses that any replacement must be accompanied by measures to prevent further vandalism.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has directed Air Peace to compensate passengers affected by a delayed Lagos-to-Enugu flight. The NCAA said its preliminary investigation found that the airline mistakenly sent passengers the wrong notification about the flight. The flight, originally scheduled for 6:45 a.m. on Monday, was later delayed until 4:50 p.m., leaving some passengers stranded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. The regulator said the disruption was linked to a ripple effect from flight problems experienced by the airline on Sunday night. NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu said Air Peace has been ordered to provide a compensation package and adequate care for the affected passengers. He also said the airline would face sanctions if it fails to comply with the directive. Meanwhile, Air Peace has disputed NCAA figures showing that 71.4 per cent of its flights were delayed in August, saying the data left out more than 700 flights. The airline also said only about 15 per cent of its delays were caused by internal factors.

The Niger State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew across Minna, the state capital, following unrest linked to the deaths of suspected illegal miners. The curfew takes effect immediately after Friday’s Jumu’ah prayers and remains in place until further notice. Residents have been directed to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement throughout the period. Security agencies have also been ordered to enforce the curfew and protect lives and property across the city. The unrest follows a protest on Thursday over the deaths of suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC. The state government has urged residents to remain calm and comply with directives from security agencies as authorities work to contain the situation.