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Tag: explosion

  • Explosion kills 8 in Jos, 101 hospitalized – Govt.

    Plateau state government has announced the death of eight persons resulting from an explosion of Chlorine Cylinder in Jos, the state capital.

    Government also said over 100 affected persons were rushed to hospital after inhaling the poisonous Chlorine gas from the explosion.

    The explosion occurred at the site of the state government water treatment plant at the Lamingo water Dam.

    A statement issued in Jos on Saturday by the director of press and public affairs to Governor Lalong, Samuel Nanle stated that, “There was an excess Chlorine inhalation from an exploded Chlorine Cylinder by residents around the Lamingo Water Board Treatment Plant.

    “As a result of which 101 (One hundred and one) people were affected and are receiving treatment at OLA Hospital, Evangel Hospital (Jankwano), Plateau Specialist Hospital and Airforce Hospital.

    “Some of the victims on hospital admission have been discharged

    “A total of 8 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the inhalation of the contaminated air” Nanle stated.

    The statement also said, “The contamination has been contained and does not affect the water which has been supplied to Public Mains; water from the public mains is safe for consumption and is not affected in anyway by the Arial contamination of Chlorine from the exploded cylinder.

    “Government wishes to commiserate with the families of the victims of this industrial hazard and has taken immediate measures to address the issues of expired components of the Treatment Plant and to guard against future reoccurrence of this unfortunate incidence.”

  • Breaking News: Explosions in Damaturu at prayer ground

    Ahead of today’s Sallah celebration, two explosions have been reported early Friday morning in Damaturu, Yobe State.
    The explosions at Phase 1 Eid praying ground was said to have been triggered off by a female suicide bomber.
    An eyewitness told our reporter he counted five dead bodies at the scene.
    More details later.

  • Breaking: Double suicide attack in Maiduguri

    Residents of Maiduguri in Borno State woke up on Saturday with yet another horrible experience as two suicide explosion was recorded at two sperate places in the troubled city.
    The first one occurred around the office of the DSS in Maiduguri. The area is just few meters to the popular Borno Express bus terminal.
    Eyewitnesses said the suicide bomber rode in a tricycle as a passenger and difused the bomb.
    Casualty figures is still unknown, security forces are condoning off the area.
    Another explosion went off by PHCN office near another bus terminal, Adamawa sunshine express around Monday market.
    Details of casualty figure remain sketchy at the moment.

  • Explosion in Rivers court as judge sacks 22 councils’ excos

    There was an explosion yesterday at the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The explosion occurred in the morning, before the court, presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi, sacked 22 of the 23 local government areas and their councillors.

    The tenure of the chairman and councillors of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area will expire next year.

    The judge nullified the election of the local government chairmen and the councillors because it allegedly flouted a court order.

    Justice Akanbi accused the Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi-led former administration of lawlessness and disobedience to the court.

    He set aside the May 23 elections, which produced the local government officials.

    The Prof. Augustine Ahiuzu-led State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the government body that conducted the elections in 22 of the 23 local government applied for the release of the voter register from the Dame Cecilia Khan-led state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The PDP filed an injunction restraining INEC from releasing the register.

    The party alleged that the process was impromptu and, therefore, illegal.

    The PDP sued the government, RSIEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.

    At the earlier hearing, the court declined jurisdiction in the matter.

    Lawyer to the respondent, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), informed the court that his clients had filed an appeal on the matter.

    He urged the court to step down further hearing, pending the decision of the higher court.

    The court ordered parties to maintain the status quo and leave the rest.

    It adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely).

    When the election was conducted on May 23, PDP boycotted it; the APC produced all the 22 chairmen and almost all the councillors.

    The respondents, at the end of the last administration withdrew the Appeal and closed the case.

    Justice Akanbi resurrected the matter yesterday, nullifying the election.

    But APC and the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) told reporters in Port Harcourt that the judgment lacked a fair hearing.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Akanbi said: “The respondent (APC) was aware of the order that they should leave the rest. The respondent committed contempt of court for going ahead to hold the elections while the suit was pending.

    “When a matter is in court, nothing should be done to prejudice the matter.

    “The parties cannot jump the gun to do anything in their own way. A party in a suit cannot resort to self-help. Whenever a ruling has not been given, parties are bound to maintain the status quo.

    “The attitude of the second and third respondents in this matter is unacceptable, provocative, lawless and condemnable. We must learn to uphold the rule of law. It helps to strengthen our democracy.

    “I hereby set aside the local government elections held on May 23, 2015.”

    Rivers APC blamed the explosion on the PDP.

    APC said: “The explosion at the Federal High Court (FHC) was a make-up act by PDP members; such acts are notorious with their activities in Rivers State to justify any of their diabolical and evil acts against Rivers State and its people.

    “Acts of killing and bombing are associated with the PDP. So, if the police are serious to unravel this, they should beam their searchlight on the PDP. We would have declared today (yesterday) a day of mourning in Rivers State, if not for the favourable judgment we got at the Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, which set in motion the move to unseat …Wike.

    “With the favourable judgment, we are very convinced that it is a matter of weeks for Wike to face the wrath of our people…”

    On the dissolution of the 22 local government chairmen and councillors, APC said the councils were well constituted and the sacked officials duly elected by Rivers electorate.

    It described the development as sad and unfortunate.

    The APC said it would appeal the dissolution to ensure that justice was done and Wike’s impunity redressed.

    The sacked members of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), led by Chimbiko Iche Akarolo of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, recently accused Justice Akanbi of acting Wike’s script for their sack.

    The ALGON members also sent a petition against Justice Akanbi to the National Judicial Council (NJC), calling for his dismissal for unethical conduct and corruption.

    But Rivers PDP’s Publicity Secretary Samuel Nwanosike described members his party as law-abiding and peace-loving.

    He denied its involvement in the explosion.

    The PDP urged security agents to investigate the incident.

    Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday sent the names of caretaker committees’ members for the 22 local government areas to the House of Assembly.

    Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani led the other lawmakers to screen the caretaker committee members.

    The process was underway at the time of filing this report.

    Also, the 22 elected council chairmen yesterday withdrew the suit seeking protection from Wike’s dissolution.

  • 34 houses, 70 shops razed in Lagos tanker fire explosion

    34 houses, 70 shops razed in Lagos tanker fire explosion

    Tears flowed freely. Residents of Idimu area of Lagos state, watched with pity written all over their faces as fire fighters battled for hours to put out a raging fire that had left over 34 houses and 70 shops destroyed in its wake on Saturday.
    For some it was so hard to take. What has been their means of livelihood had been consumed by fire. For others, a place they once called home had become mere ashes.
    Yemisi Osinaike wore a pitiable look. She was supported on her arms by some of her friends as she sobbed uncontrollably.
    She had kept vigil watching as the inferno consumed her late father’s house.
    According to her, “It is my father’s house that was burnt. It was just yesterday that I spent all the money that I have to buy goods for the shop. Everything has been destroyed. Where do I start from?” she said amidst sobs.
    At some point, she was unconscious. Some residents and members of the Red Cross helped her up and took her away to a safe distance away from the prying eyes of onlookers.
    Kudirat Olusi, whose family houses was also razed completely was a shadow of herself. For her, it was still like a dream she never wanted to wake up from.
    She had just closed from her road side market store and was about to retire for the night, when she heard the tankers over speeding. Baring some minutes later, she heard a big bang, alas, a tanker had just fallen on the road.
    Olusi, with only a wrapper tied to her chest, ran out of the house seeing the raging fire trickling down the Idimu junction.
    She immediately alerted her family and neighbours to exit their houses as there was a strong likelihood that the area might be engulfed in fire.
    “Where do we start from now? Everything I have is gone with the fire. I took nothing out of the house. All my clothes, goods, including money from Alajeseku (thrift) that I collected yesterday were burnt,” Olusi said, as she broke down in tears.
    For the Lagos State Fire Service, it was yet another long night of fire fighting. With just over 72 hours after a similar incident in Iyana Ipaja, they were keeping vigil fighting yet another deadly fire outbreak residents said was caused by the recklessness of tanker drivers.
    But for their timely intervention, it could have been worse. The fire was nearing an MRS fuel station just a few metres away from where the fire was extinguished.
    It was the third of such tanker explosions Lagos in the last six days. Luckily, no lives were lost in all incidents.

  • Breaking News: Explosion hits Yola market

    Breaking News: Explosion hits Yola market

    An explosion has reportedly hit a major market in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state on Thursday evening.

    The explosion which occurred at about 7:00 p.m near the Jimeta main market,  eye witness reported, left scores injured.

    The Nation was unable to contact the security operatives concerning the cause of the blast, it was however suspected to be an activity of suicide bombers.

     

    Details later…

  • Two soldiers die as explosion rocks Jos army barrack

    Two soldiers die as explosion rocks Jos army barrack

    An attempt by the authorities of the Three Armoured Division of the Army in Jos to clean up the armoury turned deadly yesterday, claiming at least two lives, all of them soldiers.

    The victims were blown up accidentally at  Maxwell Khobe Cantonment  as they packed expired ammunition meant for destruction, a military spokesman said,confirming two deaths.

    “Some of the unserviceable ammunition exploded in the process of moving them to the demolition site in the bush. Unfortunately, two soldiers lost their lives and one sustained injuries,” Colonel Sani Usman said on Facebook.

    The explosion occurred at about 9:45 a.m. triggering pandemonium in a city that has witnessed several bomb explosions in the last few years.

    Sound of the explosion was heard across the city and its environs.

    The barrack was immediately cordoned off as a pre-cautionary measure.

    A similar explosion at the Ikeja cantonment on January 27, 2002 killed many people and destroyed a large section of Lagos metropolis.

    As people fled the flames ignited by the explosion, many residents fell into the Oke Afa canal at Isolo, and drowned.

  • The Fountain of Life word explosion

    The annual word explosion conference of the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju Lagos kicks off from Tuesday.

    The conference, which ends on Sunday, holds at the new auditorium of the church on 12 Industrial Avenue Road, by PZ Industries, Ilupeju.

    A statement issued by the media office of the church stated that the conference coincides with the 23rdanniversary of the church.

    Ministers expected at the conference with the theme supernatural harvest include Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo; Archbishop of Church of God Mission International, Dr. Margaret Idahosa; President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN), Rev. (Dr.) Felix Omobude as well as founder of the Scripture Pasture Christian Centre, Ibadan, Pastor Olubi Johnson.

  • UI VC worried about explosion of medical schools

    UI VC worried about explosion of medical schools

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Isaac Adewole has expressed concern over the proliferation of medical schools in the country.

    The professor of obstetrics and gynecology made this observation in a keynote address delivered at the induction of 64 medical doctors freshly produced by the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) College of Health Sciences on Monday.

    In his address titled: “Beyond the Coveted MBBS; Contemporary Problems and Prospects of Postgraduate Medical Education in Nigeria,” Adewole said he feared quality of medical care would be compromised.

    He said: “The proliferation of medical schools with no strict regulation remains ‘a keg of gunpowder’ that needs urgent attention. I am concerned that some of these schools are also making frantic effort to throw their graduates into labour market.

    “The implication is that the quality of service and an increasing proportion of malpractice might be too much to contend with. It is an emergency that needs urgent surgical and medical operation in theatre of the policy makers and other stakeholders.”

    He also said trainee, trainer, government and other stakeholders needed to take postgraduate medical education seriously.  He added that there is no end to medical education.

    Adewole, who said training institutions should be reorganised, added that most of them had turned into “glorified tertiary health centres”.

    He said: “We need to have a comprehensive regulation at the national level that will transcend individual professional associations and disciplines for a qualitative output.

    “Training colleges should continue their engagement with National Universities Commission and look for ways to incorporate real academic training into the professional fellowship programme. We cannot deny the fact that the current pressure might lead to a future demand from the incoming generation to have academic exposure before being engaged in the universities.”

    Meanwhile, Provost of the UNILORIN College of Health Sciences, Prof ‘Wahab Johnson, said the institution had churned out 4,062 medical doctors in its 38 years of existence, adding that the doctors had been well trained.

    “Our robust MBBS programme has continued to turn out on yearly basis, well trained medical doctors who have continued to contribute quantitatively and qualitatively to the health-care needs of our beloved nation,” he said.

    Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, said the new graduates are capable of improving healthcare delivery system in the country and the world.

    Ambali, who charged the medical graduates to be professional always, said: “a professional is someone who can do his best work when he doesn’t feel like it. This is very true of doctors whose work can be anytime anyway and the work has to be done well.”

    He also urged the new doctors to be humane and caring.

  • 34 killed, 42 injured in Maiduguri explosion

    34 killed, 42 injured in Maiduguri explosion

    ANOTHER bomb went off yesterday in Maiduguri, the troubled Borno State capital.

    The explosion occurred as residents were struggling to free themselves from the hangover of last weekend’s multiple bombings.

    The scene of yesterday’s blast is the famous Monday Market where no fewer than 34 people died and 42 others injured.

    A commercial driver who dropped passengers just before the El-Kanami Roundabout near the market, Hamisu, said: “I was in my car (a Volkswagen Golf), dropping three passengers that I picked from Gomari straight to Kasuwa through the Post Office peacefully and smoothly. When the last passenger was alighting from the car, I heard a heavy, strange sound that shook everywhere and everything around.”

    He went on: “Immediately we saw heavy black smoke opposite us at the small entrance of the Monday Market near the El Kanemi Roundabout by the Mai Nono(fresh cow milk) place where these Fulani women sell nono, fresh cow milk around 4.47 pm.

    “I was terribly scared and could not even move an inch from my car, shivering for some minutes before I started my car and drove away.

    “When I took the other way out of the scene, I saw soldiers and civilian JTF rushing to the scene. People were running up and down, confused and terrified. Some were pushing others down – all out of confusion and fear.

    Mustapha Idi, a civilian JTF member, described the attack as “deadly and terrible”.

    He said: “We have so far been able to carry about 30 bodies to the hospital and over 30 seriously injured people, apart from those who ran away from the scene, wounded and those that went to the hospital on their own.”

    A hospital source said: We have 34 deaths and 42 wounded people. The ambulance vans are coming.”