News
Over 100,000 Ibaji residents in danger as flood submerges Kogi communities
- …group cries out for urgent relief assistance, evacuation of victims
The entire communities in the 10 wards of Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State have been submerged by flood which has displaced over 100,000 residents including children now in dire need of urgent relief and evacuation.
Several buildings with weak foundations have already collapsed while many farm settlements, crops and household properties have been washed away by the rampaging floods from the River Niger and its tributaries including Analo river that connects several communities.
Ibaji Local Government has several coastal communities spread along the River Niger and its tributaries bordering Enugu, Anambra, Edo, and Delta State.
Reports from the council said the council headquarters at Onyedega had been completely submerged while the staff and other residents of the town have deserted their homes.
There was no report of casualties from the flood disaster by press time but several persons rendered homeless are said to be lacking food and drugs just as the aged and children were said to be suffering various ailments including severe cold.
Transporters and commercial motorcyclists that normally convey passengers from Idah to various communities in Ibaji have reportedly suspended their services as most of the roads had become impassable on account of the flood disaster.
Reacting to the development, the Ibaji Unity Forum, IUF, an association for all Ibaji Sons and Daughters at home and in the Diaspora, lamented the monumental losses already caused by the perennial flooding of communities in the local government and made a passionate appeal to the federal and Kogi states governments, humanitarian, donor and relief agencies to urgently come to the aid of the displaced persons.
President of the association, Barrister Stephen Ugbeda James Uchola, said the appeal had become necessary since the displaced people of Ibaji are currently helpless, lacking shelter, food and drugs, adding that many had remained trapped on top of trees and hills waiting to be evacuated to safe places.
“As we speak, thousands of people have been completely rendered homeless as their houses have been submerged and various crops including rice, yam and cassava have been washed away. Even those that will survive the flood disaster will have nothing with which to continue life when they return to their villages.
“On behalf of Ibaji Unity Forum, I hereby call on the Federal Government, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Kogi State Government, International donor agencies and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of our people now in dire need of relief materials to enable them survive the hardship they have been subjected to by the natural disaster,” Barrister Ugbeda said.
Meanwhile, a philantropist, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, has made a donation of N10 million towards alleviating the suffering of the flood victims in Ibaji local government area.
The IUF leader applauded the kind gesture of Alhaji Ajaka and appealed to others to emulate him as the needs of the victims were enormous.
Gunmen on Thursday night ambushed and beheaded a 30-year-old man, Elisha Abbas Saku, at Riwhie-Chwo in Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred around 10 pm when the gunmen stormed the community, throwing residents into panic and confusion.
A statement issued on Friday by the Irigwe Youth Movement described the killing as a brutal ambush.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Yonkpa, who signed the statement, prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul while calling for divine comfort for the entire Irigwe Nation.
“Yesterday night, 16th April 2026, gunmen ambushed and beheaded Mr. Elisha Abbas Saku, 30 years old, at Riwhie-Chwo, Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa LGA, Plateau State,” the report stated. “May his soul rest in peace, and may God comfort the entire Irigwe Nation.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Friday.
According to the Board, candidates can now access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to either 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number registered during the examination process.
At this stage, only result viewing is available, as printing of result slips has not yet been enabled.
JAMB emphasised that the UTME exercise is still ongoing, adding that additional batches of results will be released progressively as marking and processing continue.
The Board also issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or falsify results.
It cautioned candidates against altering SMS messages received from its official platforms to misrepresent their scores to others, including parents and guardians.
JAMB Releases Results of 632,788 Candidates from Day One of the 2026 UTME
The results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, candidates should send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026
Describing such actions as a serious criminal offence, JAMB disclosed that it has already taken action against offenders. “Two candidates and one parent are currently in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement revealed.
The Board reiterated that anyone found guilty of such misconduct would face the full weight of the law.
JAMB urged candidates to adhere strictly to official channels and maintain integrity throughout the examination process, as it continues efforts to ensure a credible and transparent admissions system in Nigeria.
The Arewa APC Forum, Kano State chapter, has announced the withdrawal of its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns over governance and leadership direction.
In a statement dated April 17, 2026, the forum said its decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on the state of affairs at the federal level.
The group stated that it could no longer, “in good conscience,” continue to support the current administration, which it criticised over alleged issues including nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.
“We believe that leadership must inspire confidence, uphold fairness, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity, institutional integrity, and responsible governance,” the statement read.
It added that where such values are persistently undermined, “silence becomes complicity.”
The forum further declared that its confidence in the current political direction has been withdrawn, urging its members to align with this position in future political engagements.
The statement was signed by Sallah Hakilu Kibiya, chairman of the forum in Kano State.
The development signals potential cracks within support structures linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the northern region, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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