NEWS
School Building Collapse: Plateau Govt. Confirms 22 Dead, 132 Injured
The Plateau State Government has confirmed 22 deaths and 132 injured persons, from the Jos collapsed school building.
Mr Musa Ashoms, the commissioner for Information, said six of the injured were in critical condition.
Ashoms said that those njured were receiving treatment in various tertiary health facilities in the state, while the bodies of the deceased had been deposited in the mortuaries.
.Report says that a two-storey building of Saints Academy, a secondary and primary school located at Busa-Buji community of Jos North Local Area, had collapsed , trapping students, teachers and others.
The incident occured at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, when the students were writing their third term examination.
Meanwhile, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, has described the incident as a tragic and a monumental loss to the state.
Mutfwang stated this in a statement issued by Mr Gyang Bere, his Director of Press and Public Affairs, on Friday in Jos.
The governor, who sympathised with the families of the affected victims, further described the incident as heart-wrenching and unfortunate.
”This is tragic, unfortunate, heart-wrenching and a gloomy situation.
”We appreciate the timely intervention of the search and rescue team, as well as members of the public, who rushed to the school premises to assist in evacuating some of the surviving students and staff.
”I have directed the relevant government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, to provide necessary support to survivors.
”Words cannot fully comfort the grieving families over their immense loss, so we pray that God will continue to console and uphold them during this difficult period,” Mutfwang said.
Highlighting the significance and broader purpose of Executive Order 003, recently signed into law, Mutfwang clarified that its intent was to safeguard citizens from such disasters.
”The rationale for the executive order 003 is to prevent Jos from deteriorating into a slum, and to ensure compliance with building regulations in line with the Greater Jos Master Plan,” the governor said. (NAN)
NEWS
Fire Guts Shop Destroys Goods, Monies in Ilorin
From Samuel James, Ilorin
Goods worth millions of Naira with huge cash from sales have been burnt into ashes during a midnight inferno that occurred at Akerebiata area of Ilorin metropolis in state capital.
It was gathered that an unfortunate incident happened around 12am during the weekend at a shop where engine oil, brake fluid motor and other associated products are sold.
Ahmad Toyib, the owner of the affected shop who shares the same building with his wife who is also into tailoring materials business lost all the tailoring equipment in the severely burnt.
In addition, all the cash sales made a day before the incident and POS machine were also completely razed down.
NEWS
CNS Says Forensic, Investigative Operations Key to National Devt
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has charged officers and men of the Nigerian Navy to uphold professionalism by continuously improving their skills and aligning with global standards in forensic and investigative practices.
CNS Ogalla assured that the Nigerian Navy is committed towards adopting global best practices in forensic and investigative operations to support national development.
He stated this during the combined graduation ceremony for three courses for the Advanced Provost Officers Course, the Advanced Detective Investigation Course, and the Outriders Course—held at the Nigerian Navy Provost and Regulating School in Makurdi, Benue State,
Ogalla, who spoke through Rear Admiral Noel Madugu, highlighted the importance of the training, explaining that the courses were designed to enhance the competencies of the officers and ratings graduating from the Provost and Regulating Department.
CNS however commended the graduates, particularly those from the newly introduced specialist programs, as pioneers in advanced forensics and investigative fields.
“As pioneers, the Nigerian Navy is proud of the milestone you have achieved as custodians of forensics and specialist investigators within the Service.
“Our hope is that you will build on the knowledge gained here through dedication and professionalism in your assignments, striving for greater excellence” he maintained
Earlier, Navy Captain Henry Ejeh, Commandant of the School, detailed the rigorous 10-week training program, emphasizing its focus on instilling best practices in law enforcement within and beyond the military. He noted that the program employed diverse methods, including classroom lectures, practical demonstrations, and training attachments, to ensure the students were well-prepared for their roles.
The ceremony underscored the Navy’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its role in advancing national security through cutting-edge forensic and investigative training.
NEWS
Kwara NSCDC Organises Medical Outreach, Award Night
From Samuel James, Ilorin
The Kwara state command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has organized a Medical Outreach, Security Summit and Award Night to mark its end-of-year activities in the state.
The event which was organized by the Tanke Division highlighted the Corp’s commitment to community service, security enhancement and the recognition of excellence.
The event started with a Medical Outreach that aimed at improving health and well-being of elderly residents in the Tanke community, as free medical tests were conducted to demonstrate the Corps’ dedication to social responsibility and care for the welfare of citizens.
The Security Summit, which followed, focused on strategies to enlighten neighborhood safety and foster greater collaboration among stakeholders. It also centered its discussions on proactive measures to tackle security challenges and to enhance collective efforts toward ensuring a safe society.
The event also culminated in an Award Night to celebrate officers and stakeholders who have shown outstanding dedication, professionalism, and contributions to public safety.
While addressing the gathering, the State Commandant, Dr. Umar J.G. Mohammed, who was represented by the Area K Commander, ACC Kehinde Adebayo, extolled the officers for their unwavering commitment to duty, and explained that recognizing hard work and dedication is not only to motivate personnel but also to inspire excellence and strengthen service delivery.
In his remarks, the Tanke Divisional Officer, SC Oyinloye Yinka, explained the importance of the event, describing it as a platform to appreciate officers for their resilience and to encourage stakeholders’ involvement while reinforcing the Corps’ mandate of safeguarding lives and property.
Oyinloye further appreciated the stakeholders for their unwavering support, acknowledging that the division’s achievements were made possible through the collaborative efforts and partnerships.
The State Command however reassured of its readiness to sustain these initiatives and to deepen community engagement, and enhance operational efficiency in the years to come.