Agun Gbenga, the governor of the state capital, was found slumped at an event in Benin City, killing the commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
Gbenga allegedly collapsed after giving his good-will address at a Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre event organized by the International Association of World Peace Advocates.
Read more about One Killed As Police and the NSCDC Officers Clash in the Ebonyi Community.
He looked fine when he arrived at the event on Thursday, which was said to have shocked many attendees.
Efosa Ogbebor, the state’s liaison for public relations, released a statement on Friday confirming the incident.
Gbenga was taken to the Military Hospital, where he was later declared dead, according to the statement.
Commandant Agun Gbenga worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the citizens as an astute operations officer.
He was admired and praised for his humility, friendliness, and intelligence. He will be greatly missed for his devotion to duty and pursuit of excellence.
More than 1, 000 cows ruffled in the Salka community in the Niger State’s Magama Local Government Area, where several residents were killed and others were hurt on Tuesday.
A Salka survivor shared a terrifying encounter with the assailants, revealing how the gunmen fought before opening fire on him.
One of the bandits told his coworker not to shoot while they were confronting me, but he proceeded and pulled the trigger, according to the victim. I attempted to hold him before they finally shot me, but they outlasted me. Later, they abandoned me.
Also read: Bandits Kill Three, Steal 1, 000 Cows In New Niger Attacks
Another resident was shot in the attack, and she has since been treated there at Yawuri General Hospital in Kebbi State.
Locals who managed to hide during the raid claimed to have secretly recorded video footage of the gunmen eludeing the community while riding motorcycles, firing occasionally, and fleeing with the stolen cattle.
In connection with the state’s illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, cattle rustling, and kidnapping, the Plateau State Police Command has made 15 arrests.
During a press conference held at the Command Headquarters in Jos on Thursday, Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, the police commissioner, confirmed the rescue of a kidnap victim and the recovery of locally produced weapons.
We have detained members of kidnapping syndicates, rescued victims, and recovered firearms during various operations carried out during the period under review, according to Adesina, as part of our ongoing efforts to stop Plateau State from carrying out criminal activities.
Auwal Mohammed, a 20-year-old suspect, was detained in Jos North with items allegedly possessed by kidnapping victims, according to the CP. Four suspects were apprehended in Jos after police intercepted a car carrying an Ebuka kidnap victim. Three others tied to a kidnapping syndicate were apprehended in Bassa Local Government Area. The gang recovered a locally produced pistol.
After pursuing them to Nasarawa State, the police boss also revealed that suspects in the Qua’an Pan and Shendam LGAs were questioned after being tracked down. In separate incidents, suspects were apprehended for possessing locally manufactured weapons and live ammunition.
The police commissioner also provided safety advice to Plateau State residents.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has flagged off the Kaduna State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (KADSEMSAS), describing it as a landmark in his administration’s commitment to saving lives and ensuring no citizen is denied access to emergency healthcare.
Speaking at the official launch on Thursday, the governor said the initiative was not just about unveiling ambulances, but about guaranteeing the right to timely medical intervention for every resident of the state.
“Today marks a transformative moment in the history of Kaduna State”, Sani declared. “Our vision is simple but profound: no citizen of Kaduna State should be denied timely medical intervention because of distance, delay, or lack of access”.
The new system features a fleet of ambulances fitted with life-saving equipment, a central dispatch center staffed with trained personnel, and emergency medical technicians and paramedics who will stabilize patients en route to hospitals. It will function across all 23 Local Government Areas, covering both urban centers and rural villages.
“In times of crisis — whether a maternal complication, a road traffic accident, or a cardiac emergency—minutes can mean the difference between life and death”, the governor explained. “This deliberate step underscores our resolve to leave no one behind — urban or rural, rich or poor—in our quest to save lives”.
Under the arrangement, citizens will be able to call a dedicated emergency line, after which the nearest ambulance will be dispatched. The state hopes the initiative will significantly reduce response times, particularly in maternal and neonatal emergencies where delays often prove fatal.
READ ALSO: Over 35% Of Nigerian Children Face Malnutrition – NARD
Governor Sani stressed that the program reflects his administration’s “people-first philosophy”, noting that healthcare reforms since he assumed office have been anchored on the principle of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“We have consistently declared that access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege”, he said. “We have strengthened the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA), revitalized our primary health centres, prioritized maternal and child health, and recently approved the 2024 CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures to motivate our healthcare workers”.
He highlighted that the system was designed to be equitable and inclusive. “This initiative is not for the privileged few. It is for the farmer in Ikara, the trader in Kachia, the student in Giwa, and the child in Kagarko. No one will be left behind”, he assured.
Kaduna’s Commissioner for Health, Umma K. Ahmed, described the flag-off as “a giant leap forward” for the state’s healthcare delivery, emphasizing that the integration of the Rural Emergency Medical and Maternal Transport Services (RESMAT) into KADSEMSAS would extend access to hard-to-reach areas.
“Emergencies often come without warning, but what makes the difference between life and death is the speed and quality of response”, Ahmed said. “With KADSEMSAS, Kaduna State is making a decisive step toward making sure no citizen is left without hope in their most dire situation.”
For the first 48 hours, the program will offer free emergency care, particularly for pregnant women, children, and accident victims, she added.
Governor Sani stressed sustainability, claiming that the government was investing in enhancing health facilities, training health workers, and engaging communities to maintain system effectiveness after launch.
He declared, “This system belongs to you, citizens of our country.” We urge you to report misuse, use it responsibly, and leave feedback. The pursuit of excellence is a continuous process, not a destination.
The Federal Ministry of Health approved the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) in 2024, and Kaduna was accepted at the flag-off. According to officials, Kaduna’s example might serve as a benchmark for other Nigerian states.
Members of the Local Government Service Commission have filed a lawsuit against the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt.
Goodlife Ben, the commission’s chairman, and five others, filed a lawsuit against Ibok-Ete Ibas, the former sole administrator.
The claimants, who had previously been appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, requested that the court order their reinstatement and declare their removal unlawful.
However, Kelechi Ubani, their attorney, announced the case’s withdrawal during the session on Thursday, calling it a “painful but necessary decision.”
Ubani testified to the court that Rivers State should have done this in order to advance peace and development.
[UPDATED] Fubara Relieves Commissioners Not Approved By Amaewhule
Justice Frank Onyiri disagreed with the judge’s request to dismiss the case without further delay rather than to strike it out.
Justice Onyiri cited Order 25 Rule 1, which allows the revocation of civil lawsuits, as supporting their contention.
When the lifeless body of a 15-year-old boy, Sunusi Abubakar, was recovered from a nearby pond on Wednesday, tragedy struck Gabari village in the Jigawa Local Government Area, bringing up concerns about child safety around open water bodies in rural areas.
The deceased was discovered in a pond known locally as Mahayin gidan Toro, about 1.5 kilometers north of the village, according to the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), ASC Badaruddeen Tijjani, who confirmed the incident.
In a statement released on Thursday in Dutse, Tijjani stated that “His shoes and trousers were first discovered abandoned on the riverbank on the evening of September 30.” The villagers began a search because of this, which caused them to be concerned right away.
Sunusi had gone swimming in the pond on Tuesday night at 5 p.m. but did not make it back home, according to the boy’s father, Abubakar Gabari. Local authorities and members of the community conducted a search.
READ MORE: One Dead, Seven Injured In the Jigawa Building Collapse
According to Tijjani, “No injuries were discovered on the body, and it has since been given to the family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites,” according to Tijjani.
The NSCDC has used the incident to further calls for public understanding of the risks of swimming in unfenced, natural water bodies, particularly during the dangerous rainy season.
Tijjani remarked, “This is a painful loss.” We urge parents, guardians, and community leaders to give children’s safety precedence and to discourage them from swimming in unsupervised, unsafe water.
The NSCDC State Commandant, Muhammad Ingawa, also urged people to cooperate with security organizations to report and secure hazardous areas.
Ingawa stated that “our goal is to make Jigawa citizens feel more secure.” We ask that all residents be on the lookout, especially during this time of year when accidents are more likely to occur.
In Jigawa and other northern states, where ponds, rivers, and irrigation channels serve as informal swimming areas for kids, drowing incidents have remained a recurring issue. The majority of these water bodies are not monitored or fenced.
Just last month, four teenage girls drowned in a pond in Malkaderi village, Gagarawa LGA, in September 2024, and three teenage girls died in Buji LGA from 12- to 13-year-olds.
These are not isolated incidents, they are not. Local resident Malam Isa Gambo, who calls for a state-wide campaign to educate families and provide safe recreational areas for children, said.
