From Francis Sadhere, Delta

Panic and despair have gripped residents of Akugbene Community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State following a devastating coastal erosion and landslide incident that left many homes, farmlands, fish ponds, canoes and a major jetty destroyed.Several days after the disaster, affected residents are still reeling from the shock and now live in fear of another wave of erosion, which they say could permanently submerge the community.

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Akugbene Community, Cletus Edougha, appealed to government agencies and humanitarian bodies to urgently provide relief materials to residents who have lost both shelter and their means of livelihood.A widow, Suogha Gbawei, tearfully recounted her losses and pleaded with the Delta State and Federal Governments to intervene swiftly. “We have been rendered homeless and hopeless. Everything we depend on to survive has been washed away,” she lamented.While the Member representing Bomadi–Patani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, has mobilized contractors with heavy equipment for temporary remedial work, residents insist that only a lasting solution—such as the construction of a shore wall—can save the community from complete extinction.Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area, Dagidi Andaye, who visited the disaster site for an on-the-spot assessment, confirmed the scale of destruction and emphasized the urgent need for a permanent ecological intervention.“Akugbene is just one of the many riverine communities in Bomadi LGA facing this threat. Ninety percent of our communities are at risk due to persistent coastal erosion,” Andaye said. “For now, the council will provide palliatives and construct temporary shelters for displaced residents.”He urged the Federal and State Governments, as well as relevant interventionist agencies, to partner with the local government in combating the growing ecological challenge.While no lives were lost in the incident, Andaye praised the resilience of the community’s youths who worked tirelessly to protect the remaining portions of the damaged jetty from further destruction.As Akugbene counts its losses and hopes for swift government intervention, the disaster has once again brought to light the urgent need for comprehensive and sustainable environmental protection measures for Delta State’s riverine communities.

From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

The people of Enwan in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Director, State Security Services (SSS) and the Edo State government over the alleged invasion and killing of a young man in the community by men suspected to be policemen.

Others copied in the petition were the Police Service Commission, lawmakers representing the area in the Senate, House of Representatives and the Edo State House of Assembly. The petition was jointly signed by Dr. Steve Momoh, Chairman, Enwan Progressives Forum Elder’s Council; Comrade Israel Omokhafe, Chairman, Enwan Progressives Forum, and legal counsel to Enwan Progressives Forum, Rachael Akerele, and made available to newsmen in Benin City.In the petition, they called for a proper investigation into the way and manner the suspected policemen allegedly came in a private vehicle said to belong to the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.The community alleged that one Dr. Babatunde Wahab said to be a staff of the university (Afe Babalola University), justified the said invasion that resulted in the killing of one Mr. Cosmos.They also accused Wahab of “spreading false, defamatory, and inflammatory narratives across social and mainstream media platforms” regarding the incident.They said the policemen were unprovoked, yet they shot and killed Cosmos while he and others were trying to inquire from the police, their mission in the community.According to them the policemen were dressed in black “tactical gear” marked RRS EKS, adding: “Their mission was never disclosed, and there were no visible warrants, badges, or proof of jurisdictional authority, thereby casting immediate doubts on the legality of their operation.“This operation, disturbingly reminiscent of Gestapo-style tactics, flagrantly violated the principles of due process, the rule of law, and the fundamental respect for human life. The unidentified operatives approached the Enwan Mixed Secondary school, a space that typically serves as a hub of academic activity, and surrounding residential areas in a hostile and confrontational manner, inciting fear, confusion, and chaos among residents, particularly against the backdrop of existing insecurity in Edo North region and particularly Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, characterized by farmer-herder conflicts, kidnappings, and ritual attacks.“This act of extrajudicial killing, the wanton and disproportionate use of deadly force, and the evident jurisdictional overreach constitute a grave violation of both Nigerian law and internationally recognized human rights standards. The action and invasion were unlawful, illegitimate, and in direct contravention of Sections 34, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantee the right to life, the dignity of the human person, right to fair hearing, which is a cornerstone of human rights and due process, and freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment.They said no warrant of arrest was issued for any individual before the alleged invasion, adding that the alleged comments by Wahab’s worsened the situation.“Most disturbingly, Dr. Wahab baselessly accused Enwan community of being a hub for ritual killings, internet fraud, kidnapping, and even issuing fake customs documents, an unsubstantiated slanderous statement which amounts to dangerous ethnic profiling and collective criminalization of a peaceful people” and attempt to demonise Enwan Community.They, among others, demanded joint independent inquiry involving representatives from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Edo State Command, human rights organizations, and community representatives to ensure a transparent and unbiased investigation.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Dr. Nuzhat Rafique has called for the adoption of a modern faecal sludge management system in order to address the menace of open defecations in Plateau State.Rafique, represented by the WASH Officer, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Nanbam Michael Dawap said the adoption of the climate resilient Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) system also has the capacity of creating job opportunities for teaming youth in the state.

She stated this during the media dialogue on FSM in Plateau State held at Teest Hotel, Rayfield in Jos the Plateau state capital.The Chief Field Officer explained that Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) refers to the safe collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal or reuse of faecal sludge from on-site sanitation systems especially septic tanks, pit latrinesShe said the importance of the adoption of the Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) system in the state will “Prevent disease spread and transmission. Protect public health and living standard”Safeguard environmental quality, Promote economic growth and opportunities, Enhance well-being and dignity, Ensures sustainable sanitation services, Ensures environmental sustainability such as resource recovery and reuse practices of faecal sludge.” She emphasizedShe maintained that the challenges of Faecal Sludge Management system consist of “Inadequate Infrastructure, Limited or poorly maintained collection vehicles and treatment facilities.”Insufficient treatment capacity leading to unsafe disposal or dumping, Lack of Regulation and Enforcement and Weak policies or absence of clear FSM guidelines, poor monitoring and enforcement of sanitation standards,” in the stateDr. Rafique further advised that among the adaptation strategies for the practices of Faecal Sludge Management in the state consist of designing FSM systems that are flexible and can operate during floods or droughts.”Use climate risk assessments to guide FSM planning and siting. Resilient Infrastructure, construct flood-proof treatment plants and storage facilities.Use materials and designs that withstand extreme weather conditions and implement decentralized treatment to reduce vulnerability.” She advisedThe General Manager of the Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASA) Engr. Godfrey Dashuhar said the agency has revisited engagement with UNICEF to further strengthen the cooperation towards the betterment of Plateau citizens especially in the rural areas across the 17 LGAs.According to him, “The next steps are guidelines we are thinking of and want to work on the guideline for fecal sludge management. If we have all these guidelines in place and we actually implement them, then I’m assuring you that open defecation in our communities will be a thing of the past.”And for this, I want to assure us the media team here and other WASH colleagues that you should join us in this fight to see that Plateau State becomes open defecation free. And the only way is through this media dialogue and awareness. When you push it up, definitely it will get to the people at the top, and they will do the needful,” he stated.