NEWS
10 Family Members Die after Drinking Herbs in Kwara

From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
Tragedy struck in Biogberu village in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State as 10 members of a family died after consuming a local herbal mixture.
The sad incident happened in the rural community last Friday June 18, 2021.
The victims who included the father, mother and the children as well as other relatives comprised of six males and four females.
It was gathered that two villagers, Okosi Musa and Worugura Julin offered a woman, Pennia Bonnie of Fulani camp, Biogberu the local herbal mixture to cure her foot infection.
The duo were reported to have instructed the woman to also ensure that all her family members drink from the mixture to prevent the spread of the disease amongst them.
But, after taking the local herbal mixture, all the 10 family members died in quick succession.
Police Public Relations officer in Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi who confirmed the incident said the matter was reported to the police by one Ibrahim Bonnie on 22nd June, 2021.
Okasanmi said that the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Bagega has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident.
He added that the two suspects are already helping the police in their investigation.
Okasanmi said Bagega advised sick members of the public “to seek medical solution only in recognised medical facilities spread across the length and breadth of the state to avoid ugly incidents of this nature”.
Foreign News
Fate of Nigerian Medical Students from Sudan Hangs in Balance

A group of 47 Nigerian medical students who escaped war-torn Sudan in May 2023 are now struggling to register for the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) examination due to a document snag.The students, many of who fled or were evacuated by the Federal Government without exit visas, are currently racing against time to meet the registration deadline, with their future careers hanging precariously in the balance.
Report says that these students, who were enrolled at Sudan International University (SIU), were evacuated to Nigeria during the 2023 conflict in Sudan while in final year of study. According to the students, with the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC), they were permitted to continue their academic programme at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.Speaking to NAN on Sunday in Abuja, one student said: “We successfully completed our studies and graduated in 2024, receiving our certificates as students of SIU.”He added that they were currently preparing to sit for the MDCN examinations.The student, however, added that one of the requirements was presenting a first entry visa and a last exit visa.“Unfortunately, none of us have these documents as most of our passports remained in Sudan due to the emergency evacuation.“We respectfully request permission to sit for the examinations scheduled for June 2025,” he said.The President of the Nigerian Students Association at SIU, Najid Hassan, confirmed that due to the war in Sudan, Nigerian students were evacuated by the Federal Government.Hassan explained that with NUC approval, the affected students were allowed to continue their academic programme at UDUTH following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SIU and UDUTH.“After the MoU, we resumed studies at UDUTH in December 2023 and spent one year there.“We completed clinical rotations, lectures in gynaecology, pediatrics, surgery, and medicine, and graduated in October 2024.“We took examinations supervised by consultants at UDUTH,” Hassan said.He added that after graduation, students were awarded certificates bearing the SIU name.Hassan, however, said that when they approached MDCN for registration, the process, expected to be seamless, became challenging.“We are currently preparing for the MDCN exams, but one requirement is the submission of a ‘first entry visa and a last exit visa.’“Unfortunately, none of us have these documents because most passports remain in Sudan due to emergency evacuation,” Hassan said.He appealed to the Federal Government to intervene.NAN reports that MDCN is the regulatory body for Medicine and Dentistry in Nigeria and was established by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act.The Act had been operational since Dec. 18, 1963, and updated under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.The council’s statutory functions include setting and reviewing standards for medical and dental education.Section 9(3) and (4) of the Act empowers the council to conduct assessment exams for holders of foreign medical or dental qualifications recognised by their countries of origin.Candidates expected to sit for these examinations are trained outside Nigeria at institutions listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.One of the application requirements is submitting relevant portions of international passports, including visa and arrival/departure stamps.In a 2024 publication addressing students returning from conflict zones, MDCN Registrar Dr Fatima Kyari, reaffirmed these rules but expressed sympathy for students affected by COVID-19 and conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.“The council has held extensive consultations and developed remediation pathways to facilitate integration.”“Students graduating in 2023 or later were advised to return to a designated campus of their foreign university to complete studies physically.“They can also transfer to an accredited Nigerian university, subject to NUC approval; or integrate into a Nigerian university per NUC guidelines.“Many students from Sudan and Ukraine have successfully integrated through these pathways, exempting them from the foreign-trained medical and dental graduates (FTMDG) exams if graduating from Nigerian institutions,” Kyari said.She explained that the MoU with UDUTH was an academic collaboration and did not equate to clinical training for medical qualification recognised by MDCN.She noted that students who properly transferred and graduated from Nigerian universities approved by MDCN had been indexed, graduated, and registered as doctors.The Federal Ministry of Education, through the Director of University Education, Hajiya Rakiya Ilyasu, acknowledged the situation.She advised the affected students to formally write to the Minister of Education, including their names, and to copy the Director of Education Support Services to help facilitate a resolution.Similarly, NUC Deputy Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, confirmed awareness of the development and advised students to contact the Ministry of Education to resolve the issues.However, all efforts by NAN to obtain a response from Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), regarding the students’ plea proved unsuccessful.Similarly, all efforts to get a reaction from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) failed.The Deputy Provost of the Medical School, said he had no authority to speak on the issue, while the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Garba, said he was on transit and would respond appropriately.(NAN)NEWS
Rivers Govt. to Revamp Underutilised Technical Vocational Centre
The Rivers State Government has announced plans to revitalise the underutilised Technical and Vocational Centre in the state.The Rivers Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, disclosed this during the inspection of some facilities in the state, in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The facilities were the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Center, the ongoing State Assembly complex projects, among others. Ibas expressed concern over the underutilisation of the vocational skills centre given its potential to transform lives through skilled basic education . He stated that the centre would play a significant role in developing skilled labor, promoting economic growth, and tackling youth unemployment in the state.Ibas emphasised the importance of skills-based education and the need to optimise the use of state facilities to engage more young people productively.According to him, the state government’s commitment to revitalising key infrastructure is expected to drive youth empowerment, economic development, and sustainable growth.“The government hopes to provide young people with the skills and training needed to succeed in the workforce and contribute to the state’s economic growth by reactivating the centers.“The move is seen as a positive step towards addressing youth unemployment and promoting economic development in the state,” he said.(NAN)NEWS
Achieving Peace not Just About Wielding Guns – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says achieving peace in society goes beyond carrying rifles and guns, insisting that justice and equity must prevail.Jonathan made this known on Saturday in Abuja, where he was the guest of honour at the President’s Night organised by the Rotary Club of Asokoro.
Represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, Retired Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, the former president emphasised that peace was not merely the absence of war, but the presence of fairness. “You see, he (Jonathan) has this sense of justice, that we must be just. We should not exclude anybody.“He understood that achieving peace is not just about carrying rifles and guns. In fact, he believed that this accounts for just about 30 per cent of what is needed.“The remaining 70 per cent involves hard work, people talking, negotiating, agreeing, disagreeing, coming back again to discuss and then finally agreeing,” he said.According to him, this approach was instrumental in restoring peace to Plateau State during Jonathan’s administration.He also commended the Rotary Club for its impactful service to humanity.In his remarks, the 24th President of the Rotary Club of Asokoro, Mr Babatunde Adetoba, said the event was to showcase the club’s contributions to the community.“Rotary Club is an international organisation that has been established for over 100 years. We focus on seven key areas, including education, water, sanitation, and maternal health,” he said.Adetoba revealed that the club recently assisted indigent patients with free cataract surgeries and donated five million Naira to a hospital.“We reached out to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, donated drugs and medications, conducted free eye screenings, and gave out free glasses.“Rotary is big on polio eradication. Globally, we have spent over 2.6 billion dollars on the cause, and we continue awareness efforts to ensure Nigeria remains polio-free,” he added.He described charitable donations as a noble act that did not necessarily require much.“A small amount can put a smile on someone’s face or change their life forever,” he said.Adetoba also noted that the club had sustainability measures in place to ensure the long-term impact of its projects.Speaking on the essence of the President’s Night, he said it was an opportunity for the president to honour friends, associates, and supporters who have contributed to the club’s achievements over the year.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Stella Okotete, Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), and Hajiya Halima Buba, Managing Director of SunTrust Bank, were also honoured at the event for their outstanding contributions to society. (NAN)