David Hundeyin had released an audio of the minister threatening victims of s3xual assault by Prof. Cyril Ndifon, Dean of the Faculty of Law.

Kennedy-Ohanenye, in a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, reiterated her commitment to justice, safeguarding and advancing the rights and welfare of Nigerian women, including the pursuit of justice whenever their rights were violated.

She emphasised her unwavering dedication to upholding due diligence and the rule of law, recognising that justice and fairness were the fundamental principles upon which equitable societies were built.

“I wish to express my sincere apologies to those who were offended by my comments and actions regarding the sexual harassment scandal at the University of Calabar.

“This is extremely regrettable, as my intentions were sincere and aligned with my consistent advocacy for the welfare of Nigerian women and the pursuit of justice.

“I stand for all Nigerian women and I stand for justice and it is my hope that we can work together to actualise the dream of a country where women’s rights are respected and protected and where our daughters feel safe in institutions of learning,” she said.

Some suspected victims of child trafficking in Imo state have been intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, spoke on Sunday while giving details of the agency’s activities across the country.

Babafemi said the operatives made the interception while on patrol along Aba-Owerri expressway on Wednesday.

According to the spokesperson, the girls were suspected to be victims of child trafficking.

He said they were picked up while being relocated from their hideout in the Naze area of Owerri, the state capital to another part of the city.

Babafemi identified the victims as Chioma Emmanuel, 15; Uma Faith, 15; Divine Adimonye, 17; Opara Gift, 15; and Amarachi Mbata, 16.

“In their statements, they claimed they didn’t know the men who impregnated them,” he added.

“The Imo state command of the agency has since been directed to hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigations.”

Speaking on more activities, Babafemi said the agency arrested a passenger identified as Ugwu Peter Tochukwu who was travelling through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Oman on a Qatar Airways flight.

“Upon a thorough search of his luggage, 7.50 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed inside crayfish mixed with dry bitter leaf,” Babafemi said.

“In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations attached to some courier companies also intercepted Dubai-bound 2.9 kilograms of skunk and 14 grams of methamphetamine concealed in bags of semovita and soles of ladies’ high heel shoes respectively.”

MORE ARRESTS IN ABUJA, OGUN, KOGI

Babafemi said two suspects identified as Moses Akowe, 32, and Sunday Gabriel, 31, were arrested with 227.1kgs of cannabis on Tuesday in Ikebe village, Ankpa LGA of Kogi state.

The agency said 27-year-old Kingsley Chimaobi was arrested with 6,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup along Lokogoma-Abuja road on the same day.

“A total of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kgs and 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup seized from the duo of Salisu Murtala and Shafi’u Dahiru on Tuesday 11th September along Abuja road have been traced to two other suspects: Muntari Nasiru and Yusuf Ali who were arrested in follow up operations in Kano,” the statement added.

“Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday 13th September sentenced to five years imprisonment a drug dealer, Segun Odeyemi for trafficking and dealing in 3,842 kilograms of skunk.

“He was arrested on Saturday 1st July while conveying 89 jumbo bags of the illicit substance in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki. He was subsequently charged in suit number FHC/L/388C/2023 presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko.”

Babafemi added that the agency is committed to ridding the country of illicit drugs.

Hundreds of women from Ekakpamre community in Ughelli South local Government Area of Delta State, have staged a protest.

They called on the federal and state governments to rescue them from the incessant attacks and gang r*ping of women by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The mostly aged women during the protest weilded fresh leaves and placards with inscriptions such as, “We do not want Cows in our bush” “They Graze on our land” “We are being r*ped and chased from our farms”, they accused security agencies of supporting the herdsmen against them.

The Leader, Mrs. Loveth Boyi while addressing newsmen said, “For over 3 years now, Fulani herdsmen have been troubling us, chasing us from our farmlands.

“Just last week, five women were r*ped in their farms and as a result, we can no longer access our cassava farms, either to plant or harvest.

“The herdsmen will harvest our cassava and other farm produce and give to their cattle, our husbands are not going to the bush, hence we are calling on the state and federal governments to rescue us from the shackle of herdsmen in the community.”

Mama Blacky Raymond, an Octogenarian who twisted her kneel due to the herdsmen attack stressed that she can no longer get access to her farm after she was chased from her farm.

On his part, the President General of the Community, Edafe Kpohraror said, “The women are on this protest because herdsmen have continued to chase them from their farmlands.

“There is one Imam in the Community that is using the police and army to intimidate us, and as result, many people have fled the town because of possible arrest.

“We are appealing to the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescue our community from the attack of herdsmen.” Edafe pleaded