₦airaland Forum

A 26-year-old National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving in Bayelsa State, Miss Folakemi Akinbode, is now struggling for her life at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, following a brutal attack from suspected cultists.

The incident occurred, Monday, at about 8.30pm at Obunagha community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Miss Akinbode, an indigene of Ondo State, a graduate Nurse of the Madonna University serving at NDU Teaching Hospital was returning from work when she was ambushed by two suspected cultists along a lonely bush path leading to the corpers’ lodge where she resides.

Her right hand was almost chopped off by her assailants who are now at large.
It was learnt that but for the hand she raised to defend herself the attackers could have killed her as the machete was aimed at her head.
The victim was said to have ran to the lodge with her injuries shouting “help, help, help…” after which she collapsed and lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding from the almost severed hand.

A source told our correspondent that “though she had been given three pints of blood, she isyet to regain consciousness.”
Troubled by the development, the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Apoh Godgive, the Ibolou XI, was said to have ordered the immediate setting up of vigilante group in thecommunity with a view to fishing out the perpetrators of the crime.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident, saying the command has launched manhunt for the fleeing attackers.

Days after a peace meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and some governors who have been up in arms againsthim, indications have emerged that he has decided to accept the outcome of the May 24election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where Governor Rotimi Amaechi was elected as Chairman.

The is even as President Jonathan is insistingthat Amaechi should apologize to him:
Consequently, the five Northern governors have made a commitment to Jonathan that Governor Amaechi who won the NGF election, would be advised to apologise him.

The apology promise, according to Leadership, was as a result of the strong exceptions President Jonathan took to some disparaging remarks Governor Amaechi personally made against his (Jonathan) person in the course of the debacle.
The president was said to have expressed his displeasure over Amaechi’s remarks to some visiting governors.

The governors who met with the president atthe Presidential Villa on Saturday are those of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu; Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso; Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; Sokoto State, Aliyu Wammako; and Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.

The Aso Rock meeting marked a significant leap in the lingering crisis.

The Lagos State Government on Saturday said it would seal up any building where residents displayed their clothes outside indiscriminately.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, gave the warning while speaking with newsmen shortly after monitoring the monthly sanitation exercise in Egbe-Idimu area of the state.

He said spreading of washed clothes on fences and frontage of buildings was becoming the norm in some parts of the state.
According to him, the practice constitutes a nuisance to the environment.
The commissioner also warned residents, who wash and spread their clothes on bridge railings on major roads to desist from such act, saying tough actions would be taken against erring persons.

“We are telling residents who wash and spread clothes on the streets, major highways and other places outside their homes to desist from the practice as it constitutes a great environmental nuisance.
“This is not good for our people and our state. We have directed the officials of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) to pack those clothes as refuse wherever they see them.

“We will not hesitate to seal up buildings or houses outside of which compounds residents hang their clothes indiscriminately,“ Bello said.
He also urged the residents to create spaces within the confines of their homes to spread their clothes rather than doing so in places “not friendly to the environment.’’
The commissioner said that major roads and bridges were not the right places for the spreading of clothes, adding that those indulging in such practice were risking their lives.
Bello had earlier decried the erection of structures on flood plains and pipelines by residents of Egbe-Idimu.


He said that the situation was a major source of flooding and other disasters.
The commissioner urged the residents to remove such offending structures to ensure their safety.
He also said the state government would demolish the Orisumbare Cattle Market in the area and relocate the traders because it was erected on a drainage channel.

The commissioner urged those affected to show understanding on the government’s plan, saying that relocation of the market was to pave way for the planned drainage development project in the area.
The market leader, Mr Musibau Jolaosho, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the state government`s planned relocation of the market came as surprise to the traders.

He said that the market, which had the state government`s approval, had been in existence for over 20 years, serving other 36 markets in Alimosho Local Government area with beef.
“This place is actually one of the six approved abattoirs in the state. We are worried about the government`s plan, especially as we are about improving things in the market.

“But, if the state government still wants to carry out its plan, we can`t fight the government.
“But, we appeal that the government should immediately provide another place for us so that we can go on with our lives" he said