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.
By IHECHINYERE CHIGEMERI-UWOM
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the death of a U.S.-based Nigerian physician, Dr Uzoma Nwaubani, who was in the state for a medical mission.
Otti, in a condolence message signed by him and issued on Friday in Umuahia, said that he received the news of her passing with shock, describing her as a dedicated and compassionate medical practitioner.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) organised a five-day free medical outreach that held from April 13 to April 17.
The governor noted that the late Nwaubani was a member of the association and had returned to Nigeria with her husband and daughter, a final-year medical student in the United States, to provide free medical services to residents of Abia.
He said that while participating in the ongoing medical outreach, she developed a medical emergency and was immediately taken to a hospital.
According to him, a team of ANPA and local medical experts worked together to provide urgent critical care in a bid to save her life.
“Despite the gallant efforts of the highly skilled medical team to resuscitate her, she could not make it,” Otti said.
The governor extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, her loved ones, and members of ANPA, adding that the state government was already in communication with her family and the leadership of the association.
He promised that the government would provide the necessary support to the bereaved family and ANPA during the period of mourning.
Otti also commended the family of the late doctor and ANPA for allowing the medical mission to continue in spite of the loss.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of residents and visitors to the state.
The governor prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for strength for her family to bear the loss. (NAN)
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.
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