An Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court, on Wednesday, remanded one Ibrahim Muntari, 35, in the Ilesa Correctional Centre for allegedly causing the death of commuters in a road accident that occurred along the Ife-Ibadan Expressway.

TheNigerian Metro had earlier reported that five students of Osun State University, Osogbo alongside other passengers lost their lives in the accident that occurred last Sunday in Ikire, involving a bus that the defendant drove, heading towards the Ife end of the dual carriageway and an 18-passenger bus, conveying the deceased going towards the Ibadan-end.

The Osun varsity students who died in the road accident included; Olagbemide Olaoluwadotun, Funmilola Mary Olawuyi, Ogundare Oluwapelumi Rhoda, Ogundare Ayomide, and Farooq Suleiman.

Appearing before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, the defendant was arraigned on eight counts of reckless driving that caused death, violation of traffic rules and driving without valid vehicle papers.

The offences committed were said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27 of RTA CAP 584 Laws of Nigeria, Section 18 (b) CAP 115 laws of Osun State of Nigeria and Section 18 of cap 146 vol ii laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The defendant, in his plea, pleaded not guilty to all the charges pressed against him by the police.

Addressing the court, the prosecutor, Jacob Akintunde, said on the day the accident occurred, Muntari drove a bus with the registration number LAGOS EPE 796 VH on the public highway in a manner that was dangerous to the public and caused the death of six people and injured four others.

But the defence counsel, Shaibu Gomina, who had earlier announced appearance for Muntari, urged the court to admit his client to bail.

However, in his ruling, Magistrate Ayilara remanded the defendant in the Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till June 2, 2025.

Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has donated a campus of the State University at Kira in Tai local government area of the state to the federal government for the takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni.

President Bola Tinubu recently signed into law a bill establishing the university as part of confidence-building measures ahead of the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

Fubara spoke yesterday while inspecting the Kira campus of the RSU, which was built by the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi as a model secondary school.

The governor stated that the facility handover followed a request by President Bola Tinubu, through the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, appealing for the release of the campus for the takeoff of the new university.

He said: “We came in for an inspection of this facility. This is one of the campuses of Rivers State University. We received a request from the National Security Adviser, appealing to the state government to release this facility for the takeoff of the newly approved Federal University of Environment and Technology for our people, the Rivers people, especially the Ogoni people because it is sited in Kira, Ogoniland.

“We are here to assess the place, as it is government property belonging to Rivers State University. We are also here for the University to update us on the status of the property. They have already provided us with written information, but I felt it was proper for us to conduct a physical assessment, and that is what we have just done.

“From what we have seen, it is a well-planned facility, and I strongly believe it is suitable for the takeoff of this University.

“Let me make this very clear: this property belongs to Rivers State University, and the University belongs to the Rivers State government.
Only the Rivers State Government has the right, through the University, to release it.

“We can assure the interested parties, especially the President, who, out of his goodwill, approved this University and the National Security Adviser, who requested that we release the facility, that after this visit, we shall officially transmit the letter of release for the takeoff of the University.

“We are doing this because, at the end of the day, the University will serve three major purposes. It will bring development, enhance the educational attainment of the Ogoni people, especially in the area of environmental impact and provide a study platform for addressing environmental challenges in this region.

“You know we have many environmental issues along this corridor, and this University will serve as a centre for study and research. Finally, it is an honour that this noble initiative is being established during our time, and we thank all the parties who initiated and made it a reality.

“We are also grateful to the University for maintaining this facility. From our assessment, it is evident that most of the structures were recently renovated in preparation for use. However, since I have the final authority, we will build another facility for Rivers State University, while this campus will be released for the new Federal University.”

The management of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, has suspended academic activities following the abduction of three female engineering students late Tuesday night on the university campus.

TheNigerian Metro gathered from exclusive interviews with some students of the institution on Wednesday that the students were abducted while returning from a night study session within the university premises.

While some students claimed that four students were kidnapped, the university management, in a circular obtained by our correspondent, disclosed that three students were abducted.

A 500-level student of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Tsar Christopher, told our correspondent that the abductors emerged from a nearby bush and kidnapped the students.

Christopher said, “On February 25, at approximately 9:30 pm, four 100-level students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University were kidnapped while heading to study at the Aper Aku Auditorium.

“The incident occurred on the road linking the hostels and the College of Agriculture, Extension, and Communication. The kidnappers emerged from the bushes and took the students away. The victims are believed to be female students.”

Another student of the institution, Ashar Lubem, also claimed that four students were kidnapped by the gunmen, stressing that the incident had left students in a state of panic.

Lubem said, “Some gunmen kidnapped four students outside campus yesterday evening. We have yet to hear from them at the moment.

“Everyone is in a panic because of the incident.”

Meanwhile, the university management, in a circular signed by the Registrar, Dr John David, announced a one-week semester break in solidarity with the student community.

The Registrar also instructed students to vacate their hostels by 4 pm on Wednesday.

The circular, titled, “Security Situation on Campus”, read, “Following the unfortunate incident that occurred on campus on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at about 8:00 pm, where unknown armed men abducted three students between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core, the University Management, after a series of consultative meetings with security agencies and stakeholders, has resolved as follows:

“That the university management condemns the incident in its entirety; that the government and security agencies have been duly informed of the unfortunate incident; that all staff, students, and the general public are enjoined to remain calm as security agencies are working tirelessly to secure the release of the abducted students; that the inaugural lecture scheduled for today (February 26, 2025) is postponed indefinitely; and that the university management, in solidarity with the students and parents of the abducted students, has granted a one-week mid-semester break to all students to adequately address the security challenges on campus.

“Consequently, all students are to vacate their hostels before 4:00 pm today, Wednesday, February 26, 2025.”

However, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Wednesday, noting that an investigation had begun.

She, however, stated that the police had only received a report of two students being kidnapped.

“We received information yesterday evening that two students were kidnapped. We have commenced an investigation, and further details will be provided soon,” Anene said.

In response to the incident, the Chairman of Makurdi Local Government, Joseph Keffi, directed the deployment of security operatives to the university to enhance security.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Teran Aondona, Keffi also urged the university management to enforce the mandatory use of student identification cards.

The statement read, “The Executive Chairman of Makurdi Local Government, Joseph Keffi, after interfacing with the Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University following the alleged kidnapping of students on campus, has directed the immediate deployment of security personnel to the university premises.

“The Chairman gave the directive today at the University Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge, stressing that security patrols on the campus have been intensified.

“Hon. Keffi also urged the university management to enforce the mandatory use of student identification cards, stating that this would help in identifying non-students and potential perpetrators on campus.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Academic Union of Universities, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University chapter, Comrade Paul  Anyagh, has raised the alarm about the safety of his members on campus.

In the statement on Wednesday, Anyagh said the abduction of the three students had shown the porous security nature of the university.

He said, “With what has happened, the union is not sure that its members will be safe on campus given that this incident is one too many.

“In the past, a member of our union was kidnapped at the university staff quarters. Although he was later released, it went to show the porous security nature of our campus.

“Also, we have had cases of kidnap of students in the past on our campus, and given this circumstance, the union is no longer sure of the security of her members for the discharge of their legitimate duties.”

TheNigerian Metro reported on August 20 that more than 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer were kidnapped by gunmen in Benue State.

The students were travelling to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students annual convention in Enugu when they were ambushed around 5.30 pm in the Otukpo area of the state.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has charged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to rescue the abducted female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State.

The NANS National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, appealed in a statement sent to TheNigerian Online correspondent on Thursday.

TheNigerian Online reports that the female students of the engineering department were abducted on the university campus while returning from a night reading.

The varsity management has ordered the school closure.

Sources within the institution had told our correspondent that the armed abductors stormed out of a nearby bush and kidnapped the students.

While the university management confirmed that three students were kidnapped, the students claimed that four students were involved in the incident.

Reacting to the abduction, Adeyemi described it as barbaric and a dent in the security architecture of the country.

He expressed displeasure towards the audacity of the abductors to carry out the act on the university campus.

Adeyemi stated, “It is sad to hear that the students were kidnapped on the university’s campus. This shows that our campuses are no longer safe and it is a dent in the security architecture of this country. How the kidnapping occurred is barbaric.

“Higher institutions are supposed to be safe and secure for learning and the right of every student be protected.

“The leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Students is appealing to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately deploy resources to rescue the abducted students.”

He urged students of the university to remain calm while stressing that all hands were on deck to ensure that the students were safely rescued.

“I am appealing to the students to remain calm. The NANS Headquarters will liaise with necessary quarters to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students,” Adeyemi concluded.

Meanwhile, students of the university staged a protest on Wednesday to express their displeasure over the abduction.

Multiple videos and photos obtained by our correspondent showed the students marching within the school premises, carrying placards with the inscription “BringBackOurGirls”, and singing solidarity songs.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has approved upgrading and converting the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, to a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness.

The conversion of the state Polytechnic came after the state government’s last administration reviewed the initial proposal to upgrade the institution to a University of Management Science and Technology.

Governor Aiyedatiwa announced the school’s conversion to the University of Agriculture and Agribusiness upon his assumption of office after the inauguration. He said the school would be the model for the state government’s agri-food security revolution initiative.

The Governor added that the government would set up a committee to work out the modalities for implementing the conversion while assuring that this would not negatively affect the current students and staff of the institution.

Also, the governor approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and a private investor to inject N15 billion into a youth-oriented agriculture initiative.

The MoU was an agreement between the government and AgroMall Discovery and Extension Limited to establish and operate the Young Ranchers Agricultural Cluster Development Programme.

The company will use 5 hectares of land in each of the state’s three clusters, with three higher institutions, including the newly upgraded RUGIPO, as host pilot beneficiaries.

The initiative will focus on practical farming for young people and practical training for agriculture and related operations students.

Aside from training of the students, each of the three institutions to be used as hosts also stands to benefit a percentage from the proceeds of the operations.

In a related development, Governor Aiyedatiwa has approved a Memorandum of Understanding with BBA Consult on developing and deploying secured ICT to enhance state resources planning and management and increase revenue generation.

This agreement, which aims to reform the internally generated revenue profile of the State, will be on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis.

Following the kidnapping incident on the campus of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM) in Benue State, the management of the University has ordered all students to vacate their hostels with immediate effect.

The directive followed the abduction of three students by unknown armed assailants near Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core part of the university on Tuesday night.

The University management has, therefore, granted a one-week mid-semester break to all students, providing them with time to regroup and ensuring their safety as security agencies work on resolving the situation.

An internal memo released by the institution, signed by the Registrar, Dr. John U. David, mandated that students vacate the hostels by 4:00 pm on Wednesday.

The memo read: “Sequel to the unfortunate incident that occurred on Campus (Tuesday, February 25th, 2025) at about 8:00 pm, where unknown armed men abducted three students between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core, the University Management, after a series of consultative meetings with Security Agencies and stakeholders, resolved the following:

“The University Management condemns the incident in its entirety. The Government and the Security Agencies have been duly informed about the unfortunate incident.

“All staff, students, and the general public are enjoined to remain calm as security agencies are working tirelessly to secure the release of the abducted students.

“The Inaugural Lecture scheduled for today, February 26th, 2025, is postponed indefinitely. In solidarity with the students and parents of the abducted students, the University Management has granted a one-week mid-semester break to all students to adequately address the security challenges on campus.

“Consequently, all students are to vacate their hostels by 4:00 pm today, Wednesday, February 26th, 2025.”

However, it has been reported that protests were ongoing at the university, as students who are not from Makurdi and whose homes are far away have resorted to protest over the late notice to vacate the hostels.

As of the time of filing this report, the students were still protesting the management’s decision which ordered them to leave the hostels on such short notice.

Two students of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, were abducted by some gunmen in the late hours of Tuesday outside the university’s campus.

TheNigerian Online gathered in a telephone conversation with a student of the institution on Wednesday, Ashar Lubem, that four students were kidnapped by the gunmen.

He added that there was panic among the students following the incident.

Lubem said, “Some gunmen kidnapped four students outside campus yesterday evening. We have yet to hear from them.

“Everyone is in a panic mood because of the incident.”

In a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Wednesday, the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident and noted that an investigation had commenced.

Meanwhile, she stressed that the Command only received a report of two students being kidnapped.

“We received the information yesterday evening that two students were kidnapped. We have commenced an investigation, and further details will be provided soon,” Anene said.

Details later…

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Despite the recovery of the corpse of Miracle Ekene, a 200-level Chemical Engineering student of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, who drowned on Sunday at the Ekoli Creek in Yenagoa, over a N300 bet, the management has remained silent.

TheNigerian Metro gathered that the body was recovered from the river on Monday evening, about a day after he went missing after attempting to swim across the river.

Grieving fellow students at the university organised a candle-lit procession in honour of the student on Monday evening.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Ms Mercy Ekott, told our correspondent on Monday evening by text message, that she was not authorised to speak on the issue.

The text read, “Sorry but I haven’t been authorised to speak on the matter. Thanks.”

When TheNigerian Metro asked her the identity of the student on Tuesday, she said she did not know either.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr Musa Mohammed, confirmed the recovery of the corpse on Tuesday and said investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death.

Mohammed said: “The matter is the deceased went to the river to bathe along with one other. Unfortunately, the deceased, in the process of bathing, jumped into the river. That was how the incident took place.

“Investigations commence and we advise students, especially young persons; even those who know how to swim and those who do not know how to swim, to be very careful and take precautions, especially within the river environment.”

The deceased was said to have allegedly placed a bet with some people that he could swim across the river, but as he was swimming across, he went under the water and did not surface again.

Our correspondent was informed by a university source that the 200-level Chemical Engineering student made a bet with his coursemates to swim across the river.

“They all raised N300 each for the stake. As he was swimming, he dipped and he has not been seen after that. He is still missing up till now,” TheNigerian Metro recalls.

The body of a 200-level Chemical Engineering student of the Federal University, Otuoke, who drowned in Ekoli Creek, Yenagoa, after allegedly attempting to swim across for a N300 bet, has been recovered.

The student’s remains were retrieved from the river on Monday evening, nearly 24 hours after he went missing.

Witnesses said he had jumped into the water but failed to resurface.

Grief-stricken students of the university held a candlelight procession in his honour on Monday night.

When contacted, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mercy Ekott, declined to comment, stating via text message, “Sorry, but I haven’t been authorised to speak on the matter.”

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Musa Mohammed, said investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

“The deceased had gone to the river with a friend to bathe. Unfortunately, in the process, he jumped into the water and drowned.

“We urge students, especially young people, to exercise caution around rivers, whether they know how to swim or not,” he said.

Sources alleged that the student had wagered he could swim across the creek, but midway through, he submerged and did not reappear.

A 200-level Chemical Engineering student of the Federal University, Otuoke, has reportedly drowned at the Ekoli Creek in Yenagoa over an N300 bet.

Our correspondent learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday morning, but the corpse had yet to be recovered, just as the name of the deceased remained unknown.

TheNigerian Metro gathered on Monday from sources who were privy to the development but refused to be mentioned that the victim placed a bet with some people that he could swim across the river, but as he was swimming, he went under the water and had not surfaced ever since.

A source who is a student of the university told TheNigerian Metro on Monday, “Yesterday morning, a 200-level Chemical Engineering student made a bet with his coursemates to swim across the river.

“They all raised N300 each for the stake. As he was swimming, he dipped and he has not been seen after that. He is still missing up till now.”

Attempts by TheNigerian Metro to reach the Public Relations Officer of the university, Ms Mercy Ekott, failed as she did not pick up calls to her mobile number.

However, when reached for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Musa Mohammed, said he had yet to be briefed on the incident.

Mohammed could not also give the name of the deceased student.

Mohammed said, “I have no information on the incident” and promised to reach our correspondent the moment he had any update.

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