The Nation Newspaper

Tag: death

  • Five feared dead as bus plunges into river in Ogun

    Five persons were feared dead in an accident occurred at the J4 – Ogbere – Ijebu stretch of the Benin – Ore expressway when a 18-seater Toyota bus marked (ONDO) AKR 474 XA plunged into the Omo river there.

    The remains of two of the five occupants of the were evacuated as at noon time Thursday when the bus filled with consumable goods, was eventually pulled out of the river.

    The Ondo state bound bus had taken off from Idumota in Lagos Island before it fell into the river while operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and that of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) spent time before the vehicle could be pulled out from the Omo river.

    The Ogun state sector commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Adetunji Adegoke, said the vehicle while travelling on the Sagamu-Benin-Ore Expressway, plunged into Omo River.

    According to Adegoke, officials of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) said five passengers were inside the ill-fated bus.

    “From information we gathered from the RTEAN officials, the commercial vehicle was travelling from Idumota on Lagos Island to Ondo town when the driver lost control and the vehicle plunged into Omo River along the Sagamu-Benin-Ore Expressway.

    “We learnt only five passengers were inside the vehicle. Three males and two females.”

     

  • Son hacks mother to death in Jos

    Son hacks mother to death in Jos

    Residents of Jenta Magoro in Jos North local government of Plateau state, were thrown into shock following the news of a young man who matcheted his own mother to death.

    The incidence which occurred at about 6am Thursday morning was said to have come after a heated disagreement between the victim and her son.

    The Plateau Police command who confirmed the incidence gave the name of the dead woman as Mama Wollo Inde.

    According to the Police Public Relation Officer DSP Abu Emmanuel, “The 63 year old son known as Bravo Kunde attacked her 75 year old mother Wollo Inde with machete.”

    Close neighbors confirmed that they heard the voice of the old woman crying for help as early as 6am.

    “We rushed to the old woman’s room to discover she was attacked by her own son with whom they have been living together for long.

    “Another neighbor who pleaded anonymity said, “We noticed a very deep cut on the head of the old woman with blood rushing from the cuts when we came in to help her. Some of the neighbors rushed out to look for vehicle to convey her to the hospital but the old woman died before the vehicle could come.”

    A family member, Moses Yakubu, said, “My elder brother has been behaving strange in the last few days and we were suspecting him to be under the influence of hard drugs, but we never knew he could go this far to kill his own mom, we are all in shock.”

    The Police spokesman said, “The suspect was about to escape after the incidence but injured himself in the process. He was immediately apprehended and is currently receiving treatment at Plateau Specialists Hospital Jos.

    “The body of the old woman has also been deposited at the morgue in the same hospital and we have commenced full investigation to unravel what led to the victim committing the crime.”

  • Family petitions IG over member’s death

    The family of the late Mrs. Rachael Oladejo, a health officer in Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase over the woman’s death.

    In a petition through their lawyer, Henry Adegbemile, dated September 2, the deceased was allegedly knocked down by a truck driver attached to the Dangote firm at Adebayo Junction, Igbara-Oke headquarters of the local government on her way to church.

    The truck, with registration number Benue XA 336 BKB allegedly skidded off the road and hit the victim.

    Adegbemile said the driver; Umar Abubakar was subsequently arrested by the police in Igbara-Oke division and dragged to the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Igbara-Oke.

    However, the petitioner said after Mrs. Oladejo spent almost four months in the hospital, she died on April 23 as a result of injuries she sustained in the incident.

    The lawyer alleged that neither Dangote Group nor the driver has shown any concern on the incident and eventual death of the late public health officer.

    According to him, the driver, despite being charged for reckless driving, on hearing the death of his victim, disappeared since then.

    The petitioner also said his clients, Dr Busuyi Mekusi and Miss Adebukola Faloyo believed that the driver’s employer, Dangote Group of Companies knew his whereabouts and were of the opinion that the accused was being shielded from justice.

    He lamented that since the death of Mrs. Oladejo, her children have been in distress and living from hand to mouth.

    Adegbemile said: “The Inspector-General of Police should order thorough investigation into the disappearance of the driver from court and ensure that he is re-arrested for prosecution over the death of the deceased.

    The lawyer pleaded that Mrs. Oladejo’s case should not be one of the many unresolved deaths of “negligent” driving on the part of those in the employ of Dangote Group across Nigerian roads.

    He said his clients have also petitioned the chairman, Dangote Group demanding a compensation of N500 million.

     

  • Rock crushes mother, three children to death in Abeokuta

    Rock crushes mother, three children to death in Abeokuta

    • Father, two others critically injured

    One of the many rocks for which Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, is famous  and named after, came crashing down on Friday night, crushing a family of four to death.

    Killed were a mother (Silifat Lawal); two of her children (Raaheedat,15, Semia,4); and a grandchild  (Mariam).

    The heavy rock rolled off the height it had sat for hundreds of years at Iberekodo in Abeokuta North, smashing into the bedroom of the deceased who were fast asleep soon after having dinner.

    However, the head of the family Ismail Lawal and two other children – Sukurat and Rofiat- survived the assault on the modest home by the deadly rock.

    They were just a few steps away – relaxing in the sitting room – when the tragedy struck.

    They were injured, but that is not without injuring them seriously.

    Locals blamed Friday’s downpour for the incident.

    They said the rain appeared to have softened the base of the rock which gave way and made the rock to lose its balance.

  • Tragedy as rock crushes mother, children to death in Ogun

    … father, two others critically injured

    Four persons, including mother, two children and a grandchild were crushed to death by over 1000 years old rock that tipped off its base and rammed lethally on them after knocking down the wall of their bedroom.

    The incident which happened in the rocky Iberekodo community in Abeokuta North Local Government Council of Ogun state on Friday night, took the grieving residents in shock.

    However, the man of the house Ismail Lawal, Sukurat and Rofiat survived the assault on the modest home by the deadly rock because they happened to be relaxing at the sitting room when it struck but that is not without injuring them seriously.

    The victims – Mrs Silifat Lawal, her two children: Raaheedat (15), Semia(4) and a grandchild – Mariam, had barely fallen into a deep sleep on their bed after a Friday dinner when the rock killed them while the injured were taken to hospital for treatment.
    .
    The Nation gathered that the rock has been in existence in Iberekodo community before the Egba people settled in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital around 1830 AD.

    The Nation gathered further that the heavy downpour on Friday night which had softened the base of the rock situating on a location overlooking Ismail Lawal’s home, caused the ground to give way, and the rock having lost its balance tumbled and rolled lethally on Lawal’s home beneath.

  • Commercial sex worker sentenced to death for murder of two-yr-old

    A commercial sex worker, Mercy Ogie, has been sentenced to death by an Ado Ekiti High Court after she was found guilty of murder.

    In a ruling delivered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, Ogie was convicted of killing a two year-old, Praise Ebong.

    Ogie was said to have conspired with one Efe to steal the baby at Irona area of Ado-Ekiti on November 26, 2011.

    The prosecution counsel, Olorunfemi Alabi, called five witnesses to prove the case against the accused person.

    Alabi, who is the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, told the court that the mother of the baby had left her child with one Damilola, while she travelled to Ikere-Ekiti.

    On her return, the boy’s mother learnt that one Efe had taken away Praise on the pretext of buying him biscuits in the neighbourhood.

    The prosecution also revealed that evidence proved that Efe was Mercy Ogie’s lover and not her son as believed in some quarters.

    Alabi testified that when Efe was contacted on the telephone, he admitted that it was Ogie that sent him to steal the child and that the boy (Praise) had been sold off, an allegation the accused neither denied nor confirmed.

    In her defence, Ogie explained that Efe was her live-in lover.

    The defense counsel, Chris Omokhafe, denied that Ogie conspired with Efe to steal or murder Praise.

    Omokhafe contended that none of the prosecution witnesses established evidence that the missing child, Praise, was dead but that the child was taken away by Efe.

    Justice Daramola said an accused person can be convicted for murder even if the body of a victim was not found and that there is enough compelling circumstantial evidence that the accused person killed the deceased.

    Justice Daramola was of the opinion that circumstantial evidence may be a combination of circumstances against the accused, none of which if taken, can form cogent proof of guilt, but when taken together, create strong conclusion of guilt “with a high degree of mathematical accuracy.”

    The presiding judge held that the accused defences were characterised by “tissue of lies, inconsistencies and self-contradictions”.

    Justice Daramola, who found Ogie guilty of the charge, consequently sentenced her to death by hanging.

  • Death of civil servant sparks row in Bayelsa

    The controversial death of a staff member of Bayelsa State Water Board, Mr. Peter Ogiero, has sparked a row between the family of the deceased and the state government.

    Ogiero, an engineer, was said to have committed suicide on Tuesday over unpaid 13- month salaries.

    The Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Kuroghofa Benwari, however, explained that the deceased did not commit suicide because of unpaid salaries, adding that he died after a protracted illness.

    He said no regular employee of the ministry was owed salaries apart from about 100 casual workers who were owed 11- month- salaries.

    He said the salary problems of the affected workers was being addressed by the state government, adding that Gov Dickson had intensified efforts, them.s

    The commissioner blamed the report on the activities of opponents of the state government in order to damage the reputation of the governor.

    Sources told The Nation that the father of four gave up to frustration over what they called his unpaid salaries and decided to kill himself.

    The deceased was said to have developed stroke about one year ago when he could not care for himself and his family members.

    His wife was said to have abandoned him and relocated to her village with their three children.

    It was learnt that one of his sons Wilson, who depended solely on alms for survival had stayed with Ogiero till his death.

    A family source who spoke in confidence said: “Ogiero’s condition was pathetic. His death was tragic and painful. He took his life by drinking an insecticide. He was so frustrated that he felt life was  unkind to him. He was hopeless and helpless.”

    At  Ogiero’s residence in Okaka area of Yenagoa  metropolis on Thursday, his relations looked dejected, saying their late brother lived in penury and died out of frustration.

    When The Nation visited the residence of the deceased in Yenagoa, one of his family members who gave her name simply as Tina Ogiero was laid up with stroke for 12 months before he died.

    She said: “The stroke was caused by too much of thinking due to the fact  he was being owed months’ salaries. At a point, when his wife could no longer bear the situation, she had to run away from home with their three children to their village.

    “We  had hoped that the state government would pay his salary, but all to no avail. We tried to manage with the little money given to us by the deceased’s sister, uncle and some of his colleagues. But at a point, the money was not coming and we found it really difficult to buy his drugs and food.While we were hoping for better days, unknown to us, he had his own plans to free himself from his frustration. On the day of the incident, we had gone to purchase his drugs and foods, but returned to see him lying on the ground, gasping for breath. That was how my uncle died; we discovered that he  he drank insecticide to take his own life out of frustration and poverty.”

  • Overhaul of ‘death’ sector

    Overhaul of ‘death’ sector

    This is a column that seeks to mould, shape societal values and to protect the interests of consumers, citizens and touch other broader relevant topics under the column: ‘TRUE VALUE 360’. It is an interactive column as suggestions, complaints; day to day experiences are welcome.

    This week’s edition is OVERHAUL OF ‘DEATH’ SECTOR

    Medical doctors in government hospitals from various state chapters in Nigeria have been embarking on strike otherwise known as industrial action on and off in Nigeria in the past decades, so the ongoing is not the first nor is it likely to be the last. What kind of calamity or curse is upon the nation that we ignore essential sectors such as health? What kind of evil, accursed leadership have we bestowed upon ourselves over time that we no longer care about human lives? Singular or plural, we cannot create a single breath of life, so why should we not have an effective health system to save lives. Crisis today, ditto tomorrow, the bottom line is somebody somewhere has pocketed funds meant to improve health services just like in other sectors. I cry for my beloved country, the health sector is fast becoming the death sector.

    As long as public servants are not accountable or prosecuted for actions or inactions, impunity will continue to reign indefinitely in the land. Few weeks back, there was no single bed for admission at the emergency wards in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and patients were seen taking intravenous drips at the back of cars and pickups in the premises of LASUTH. If it were not so pathetic, it would have been funny; at first glance, I thought it was a scene from an over imaginative Nollywood director.

    The doctors, obeying the directive from their national headquarters, have shunned their duty posts leaving the bulk of the job to the nurses. The strike has crippled medical services in hospitals as patients and their relatives have continued to lament. Patients are then referred to private hospitals owned by same doctors on strike. Is this sabotage? Are these strikes illegal? Who is to blame? Are the doctors defying their oaths?

    Something must give way; heads MUST roll as so many lives have been lost courtesy of incessant strikes in our nation and inadequate management of medical facilities.

    Government on her part must provide enabling environment such as uninterrupted power supply, living wages, subsidised or free health services etc. Nothing stops Nigerian citizens from having health insurance if it is properly worked out. Health is one of the reasons Nigerians migrate abroad, refuse to come back and are subjected to various demeaning lifestyles just to stay abroad. Public servants must be banned from seeking health services abroad except on exceptional cases, this will allow us to look inwards and improve our health system.

    A negligent or corrupt health administrator is the same as a hard drug pusher, they are both leading human brings to slow but steady death closer than their God ordained time. Only, tried and tested citizens with integrity should be considered for such sensitive positions of health administration and where they are still found wanting should be brought to book.

    This change train must put health on its priority hierarchy and the common man including women, children must have unconditional access to adequate health facilities and drugs. Corrupt health workers who sell free donated drugs to patients before attending to them should be reported and penalised. If you know such officials, kindly send us a mail.

  • ‘Probe death of Hajj pilgrims’

    ‘Probe death of Hajj pilgrims’

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have expressed shock over the reported death of hundreds and injured pilgrims recorded during a stampede that occurred at the annual ritual ‘Stoning of the Devil’ during the hajj, outside the holy Muslim city of Mecca.

    In a statement by  TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, the congress said it was painful that while “we were yet grappling with the over a hundred people killed in Mecca when a construction crane fell on the crowded Grand Mosque, another one happened.”

    According to the congress, ‘’record has it that the last time a tragedy of this magnitude befell pilgrims was in July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims perished in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites near Mecca. It was the ninth in a string of such incidents since then; and we had thought that by now the Saudi government should have addressed the cause of such aviodable deaths. It just does not make any sense for people to die in places of worship, especially at an occasion as important as Islam’s most important feast and day of the stoning ritual.

    “Apart from the 1,426 pilgrim that died in 1990, 350 pilgrims also died in 2006 which eventually prompted Saudi Arabia to employ some remedial measures. We do not expect this kind of colossal loss at this time and age, again. It’s just too grave to bear,” added the TUC.

    The labour body said  the Saudi Arabia government must accept responsibility for this catastrophic loss, and as a matter of urgency order an investigation and a review of the kingdom’s plans for annual Hajj pilgrimage.

    The NLC  also expressed shock  on  the extent of the losses.

    In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, he said: “We call for a thorough investigation of the two major incidents that led to these deaths.

    “In order for transparency and re-assurance, we urge that countries whose citizens perished in the two incidents be made members of the body of inquiry.

    “But most importantly, perhaps, time has come for the Saudi authorities to review their crowd control management techniques and administration of hajj, generally”.

  • Death toll on Cross River road: 43 in 8 weeks

    Death toll on Cross River road: 43 in 8 weeks

    Another eight persons lost their lives Friday in a ghastly autocrash along the Okurikang axis of the deplorable Calabar-Itu Highway in Cross River State

    Eye witnesses said the accident involved a truck and four other vehicles.

    The incident which occurred at about 10.30 brings to 43 the number of lives that have been lost on the federal highway in the past eight weeks.

    The eye witness said the driver of the truck who was carrying scraps and heading to Aba lost control and rammed into four other cars killing some of the occupants.

    The Sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) in Cross River State, Mr. Ikechukwu Igwe confirmed the incident saying, “five vehicles were involved, a truck and four other vehicles and by the time we got there two had already been removed.

    “On the whole eight people died and three people were injured. We took the three injured people to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) first and on our way back to pick the dead ones, we noticed that the police had already evacuated the dead bodies. But our men are there clearing the road and we have made some recoveries including money”.

    Among the dead ones he said include, “one female adult and seven male adult. Two male adult and two female adult are in the hospital now”.

    On the immediate cause of the accident, Igwe said “for the fact that they said a truck was involved means that he was reckless. You know how they drive along that road. Right now the vehicles are in the bush. For the fact that he ran into all the four vehicles, it is either he lost control or he was speeding but I am going to get the details”.

    He appealed to “motorists to be patient” especially as we enter the “ember” months.