TodayPrice

Category: Tragedy

  • Gunmen attack commercial bus, abduct 10 travellers in Ondo

    Gunmen attack commercial bus, abduct 10 travellers in Ondo

    Akure—No fewer than 10 travellers have reportedly been abducted by gunmen on the Owo-Ipele -Benin highway.
    However, the state police command spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, confirmed that seven persons were kidnapped by the gunmen.

    Sources told Vanguard in Akure, the Ondo State capital, that the travellers were coming from a state in the South-South and heading towards Akure, when the gunmen struck.

    The commercial vehicle in which they were travelling was later discovered by the roadside by other commercials drivers who raised the alarm.

    Vanguard learned that the kidnappers have opened a line of communication with the families of their victims and have demanded for ransom. They reportedly threatened to kill the victims if the ransom was delayed.

    Sources said the travellers were ordered out of their vehicle by the bandits, who marched them into the forest.

    According to him, “The hoodlums ambushed them and whisked all the occupants of the vehicle into the bush. All the occupants of the vehicle were abducted and nobody heard anything about them since then.”

    Contacted, the police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said: “The Police received an information that a vehicle was attacked on the Owo/Ifon Road, and seven people were suspected to have been abducted.

    “Security operatives moved to the scene, combed the area for possible rescue of the victims and are conducting a search-and-rescue operation for the abductees.”

  • Ebonyi herdsmen killings: Death toll rises to 15, many still missing

    Ebonyi herdsmen killings: Death toll rises to 15, many still missing

    ABAKALIKI—Following the attack on the people of Amagu, Amaokwe and Umunesha villages in Nkalaha community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the death toll has risen to 15 while many people are still missing.

    The suspected herdsmen had on Sunday invaded the community, killing 10 and burning houses, but the recent reports indicated that more dead bodies had been recovered in the bush while some natives were still missing.

    The state deputy governor, Princess Patricia Obila, who visited the community, gave 24 hours ultimatum to security agencies in the state to fish out the suspected killers, who killed 15 innocent citizens in the villages of Nkalaha community.

    The deputy governor, who represented the governor, said the state government was shocked and saddened over the incident.

    She said: “No government is happy to see its citizens killed in bloody manner. This is really a horrific scene to behold, if you look at those corpses, they are our younger generation that were lost.

    “What happens to their children and what happens to their families? Why do you terminate lives that you can’t create? It is too bad. I’m sounding warning to all the youth leaders of this community. All of you should sit up, I didn’t say that you should sit up to go to fight but to make peace and love in harmony.

    “Many people died for not knowing what was happening. I’m telling you the truth, many of the corpses lying there did not know what was happening.

    “I want to thank the security agencies in the state for their efforts, without their interventions, the casualty would have been much more than this. The killers must be brought to book. I order you to fish them (killers) out within 24 hours.”

    The traditional ruler of Nkalaha community, Igwe Thompson Ebe, said: “I had written a report to the governor and copied security agencies, because the problem started on January 20 to 31, 2025.

    “We have continued to meditate between the Agila in Benue State and the Fulani herdsmen. I even invited them to my house in Abakaliki to talk to them over their cows that were allegedly killed. We have even made some arrests to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended. As we were still talking, this ugly incident of killings took place on Sunday.”

    “The herdsmen attacked three villages; Amagu, Amaokwe and umunesha. We are still recovering the bodies. Now, the number has increased to 15, and we are looking for two others,” Igwe Ebe stated.

  • Kenya gold mine collapses trapping 12

    Kenya gold mine collapses trapping 12

    A dozen people were trapped after a gold mine in western Kenya partially collapsed, police said Tuesday.

    Kenya has a small mining sector compared to its neighbours.

    Read Also: Three siblings killed, bodies dumped in deep freezer in Anambra community

    However despite rapid growth in recent years, much of it is unregulated with miners having to deal with poor safety measures and organised crime groups.

    “The information we have is that there were around 20 miners at the time it collapsed, but eight have been rescued,” said Daniel Makumbu, a county police commander in the Kakamega region told AFP.

    “The search and rescue operation is ongoing and we are urging the crowd to stay away to make the work easier and avoid endangering themselves because this area is very fragile,” he added.

    The incident occurred late on Monday.

    A report published by Africa’s Institute for Security Studies said legal small-scale mining, mostly focused on gold, contributed $224 million to the Kenyan economy in 2022 — around half its mining output — and employed around 250,000 people.

    At least five people died when heavy rains caused an unauthorised gold mine to collapse in May 2024 in the Hillo area near the border with Ethiopia.

  • Just in: Gunmen abduct 10 travellers in Ondo

    Just in: Gunmen abduct 10 travellers in Ondo

    No fewer than 10 travellers have reportedly been abducted by unknown gunmen along the Owo-Ipele-Benin Highway in Ondo State.

    Confirming the incident, the state police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, stated that seven persons were kidnapped by the assailants.

    Sources in Akure, the Ondo State capital, revealed that the travellers were returning from a South-South state and heading to Akure when the gunmen struck.

    Their commercial vehicle was later found abandoned by the roadside, prompting other drivers to raise the alarm.

    Odunlami assured the public that further details would be provided as investigations continue.

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that the kidnappers have contacted the families of the victims and are demanding ransom for their release.

  • 3 siblings killed, bodies stuffed in deep freezer in Anambra

    3 siblings killed, bodies stuffed in deep freezer in Anambra

    NNEWI—Three siblings, a boy and two girls, have been killed by yet-to-be identified persons in Nnewichi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The siblings’ ages, nine, seven and five, were suspected to have been killed by the assailants, who swooped on them in their house, then stuffed their lifeless bodies inside a deep freezer in their apartment.

    TodayPriceNG: gathered that the eldest of the siblings, a girl, Chikaima Ejezie, nine years, the second daughter, Chimziterem Dominica, seven years and the only son, Chimdilim Ejezie, five years were left in their apartment by their mother, Mrs. Chikazor Ejezie, said to be a lecturer and nurse, to participate in an examination on the fateful day.

    Mrs. Ejezie, according to TodayPriceNG source, was said to have returned from the examination and found her apartment widely opened, quite unusual and unlike her children, if they were not indoors or in the absence of their parents.

    Mrs. Ejezie was said to be worried on why her apartment would be left so open with none of her children around and as a result started looking for them in and outside the apartment.

    Her curiosity, according to TodayPriceNG source, to know why her children were not in the house and her apartment left wild open, led her to go to the deep freezer to know if they were hungry and didn’t eat their food and probably went out to buy something, but on opening the deep freezer, she met her greatest shock, the bodies of her children squeezed inside the deep freezer.

    Confirming the incident to newsmen in Nnewi, father of the deceased siblings, Mr. Udobi Ejezie, who is based

    in Irrua, a town in Esan Central Local Government Area in Edo State, said he was informed of the incident by his wife, who called to tell him, which made him rushed back to Nnewichi.

    According to Mr. Ejezie, “My wife told me after searching for the kids by herself and a search party, without success, and in despair, the deep freezer was opened and behold, the dead bodies of the kids were found there.”

    According to the father of the deceased siblings, “In the house, a bungalow where we live, we have two other tenants and the landlord, the kids were eating when the assailants stormed the house in the afternoon because we found food in plates and it was likely they were forced to abandon the food.”

    TodayPriceNG: gathered that the corpses of the kids had been deposited at a morgue and the incident reported at Central Police Station, Nnewi.

    Calls made to the Anambra State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga were not respobded, a text message to his phone to confirm the incident has equally not been replied at press time.

  • Enough of these tanker explosion deaths!

    Enough of these tanker explosion deaths!

    When will our leaders – President, Vice President, Governors and Lawmakers – get tired of issuing shop-worn condolence messages to families of victims of avoidable lethal accidents, particularly boat drownings and petrol tanker explosions? These condolences now smack of apparent inability of government to address their root causes to minimise their occurrences.

    Within the space of five months, Nigeria has recorded several tanker explosions which claimed the lives of over 400 people, with others severely injured. Besides the most recent ones, on September 8, 2024, a tanker accident claimed 48 lives in Agaie area of Niger State. A bigger accident that led to the demise of 209 took place in Maijiya, Jigawa State, on 15th October 2024. Tragedy returned to the Suleja area of Niger State on Saturday, 18th January 2025 with the perishing of another 86.

    Just like in the historic Jesse, Delta State accident of 1998 which grimly took the lives of 1,082, the high fatalities were as a result of multitudes rushing to the accident scenes to scoop petrol. In such situations, all it needs is a single spark for hundreds to die horrifying deaths or become disabled for life, within an instant.

    Unfortunately, due to poverty, ignorance and the inability of misguided citizens to resist the lure of free petrol, this tragedy will continue until government does its job to minimise the exposure of the poor to this danger.

    Years of bad, corrupt and incompetent government have led to a broken system where fuel marketers have no choice but to freight their products over long distances on badly maintained highways. Petroleum products can no longer be pumped through pipeline networks to depots because of the menace of vandals. Our railway system, which used to complement the pipelines, has been out of commission for over 30 years.

    Our weak law enforcement system and poor maintenance culture are not helping matters. Despite the hundreds of Police, Military and Road Safety checkpoints on our highways, rickety tankers and trucks which have no business being on the roads are allowed due to bribery and the fact that most of them are owned by untouchable “big men/women”.

    There is no alternative to the restoration of the pipeline/depot network system of fuel distribution. The law enforcement agencies must find the solution to vandalisation. That is their work. The railway system restoration must be prioritised to re-enable the movement of fuel by rail. It does not make sense to truck petrol from Lagos to Maiduguri or Port Harcourt to Sokoto on our deplorable roads. That is courting disaster!

    Setting up committees after tragedies is a mere fire brigade reflex action. Good governance is the only solution. Our broken system must be restored and our people re-orientated to see tanker accident scenes as death beckoning, rather than “awuff” or freebies.

    Good governance is key!

  • 28 passengers burnt to death in Ondo auto crash

    28 passengers burnt to death in Ondo auto crash

    28 passengers have been burnt beyond recognition in an auto crash that occurred at Onipetsi, along the Ore-Lagos highway, Odigbo local government area, Ondo state.

    Confirming the crash, the Ondo FRSC Commander, Samuel Ibitoye, said that only two persons survived the crash and receiving treatment in an hospital.

    Ibitoye, said the “28 victims were burnt beyond recognition the fatal accident caused by head-on collision of two vehicles in Mile 49, on the Ore-Lagos expressway.

    ” The accident was caused by excessive speeding and traffic violation which led to a head-on collision by the two vehicles while 28 passengers out of 30 passengers lost their lives tragically.

    He said that drivers must always exercise patience on the highway urged passengers to always caution drivers against reckless driving.

    The sector commander noted that the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital in Ore while the two survivors who sustained high degree of injuries were at the same hospital for treatment.

    According to him “the accident was caused by excessive speeding and traffic violation which led to a head-on collision by the two vehicles while 28 passengers out of 30 passengers lost their lives tragically.

    “it’s unfortunate that 28 lives were burnt beyond recognition in the fatal accident caused by excessive speeding and traffic violations.

    “The contract between drivers and passengers is to take them safely to their destinations after they have paid not to drive them to their graves.

    “This is why everyone must participate in road safety, the passengers too have a role to play by cautioning drivers or reporting them to FRSC personnel on the highway.

    “We appeal to our drivers to always exercise patience on the highway in order to reduce crashes to safe lives and property.

    He assured that investigation would unravel more details on the incident.

  • Tankers of Death: Catastrophic fires kill 3,445

    Tankers of Death: Catastrophic fires kill 3,445

    Nigeria’s roads have become a killing field, with fuel tanker crashes and fires claiming thousands of lives over the past 15 years.

    The statistics are staggering: About 3,445 people, according to data independently collected by Sunday Vanguard, lost their lives in the crashes, leaving behind grieving families and shattered communities.

    The sheer scale of the tragedy is a damning indictment of the country’s transportation infrastructure and the lax safety standards that have allowed these disasters to occur with alarming frequency.

    The human cost is incalculable, but the economic toll is also significant.

    The destruction of property, loss of livelihoods, and the strain on emergency services all take a heavy toll on the nation’s resources.

    Tankers play a crucial role in the transportation of petroleum products across the country, but frequent accidents involving them — often accompanied by fires and explosions — remain a persistent danger.

    Sadly, despite the high frequency of the crashes, there is a notable lack of adequate data to study and understand the pattern of petroleum tanker accidents in the country.

    This has made it challenging for relevant stakeholders to implement effective strategies for preventing these incidents.

    The economic toll of the accidents is also substantial, as they often result in the destruction of property, including homes, businesses and vehicles, worth billions of naira.

    In this report, Sunday Vanguard reviews fuel tanker accidents in Nigeria from January 2010 to January 2025 and reports that the period under review saw a staggering number of accidents, including over 2,500 tanker crashes and about 3,445 fatalities.

    The most recent major tragedies occurred on January 18, 2025, when a fuel tanker exploded near Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, killing at least 98 people and on January 25, 2025, at Ugwu Onyeama in Enugu State in which over 20 people were burnt alive.

    These latest incidents underscore the alarming death toll associated with tanker accidents in the country.

    Deadly Incidents

    One of the deadliest incidents occurred on October 15, 2024, in Majia, Jigawa State, where an explosion from an overturned tanker killed 181 people.

    This marked 2024 as the deadliest year for tanker-related accidents, with a total of 266 fatalities.

    Noteworthy incidents also include the 2019 Onitsha, Anambra State explosion, where a petrol-laden tanker crashed, resulting in the death of five people and the destruction of over 40 buildings.

    Another explosion occurred in Lagos State on June 27, 2018, when a tanker fell on the Otedola Bridge, causing a fire that killed over 10 people and destroyed more than 50 vehicles.

    In Benue State on July 2024, a petrol tanker explosion killed at least 45 people and injured over 100 when locals attempted to scoop fuel from the wreckage.

    On January 2019, a tanker explosion in the Odukpani area of Cross River State killed approximately 60 people who were trying to collect spilt fuel.

    A similar incident occurred in Rivers State in July 2012 when a tanker accident resulted in 104 deaths when people tried to scoop fuel from a tanker after it crashed.

    Breakdown

    A breakdown of accident statistics reveals a troubling trend in fatalities, with 2019 recording 173 deaths and 161 injuries.

    The year 2020 saw over 1,500 fuel tanker accidents, claiming at least 535 lives. Other years with significant accidents include:

    2010: 461 accidents
    2011: 180 accidents
    2012: 179 accidents
    2013: 315 accidents
    2014: 271 accidents
    2015: 331 accidents
    2016: 359 accidents
    2017: 308 accidents

    As Nigeria struggles to develop its economy and improve the lives of its citizens, it is clear that addressing the scourge of fuel tanker crashes must be a priority. But what are the root causes of these disasters, and what can be done to prevent them?

    The incessant petrol tanker crashes have been attributed to several factors.

    According to findings, top in the list are scooping of fuel from fallen tankers, recklessness of drivers, deplorable roads, non-adherence to road traffic safety practices, inadequate driver’s training/certification and retraining, non-adherence to safe laden/haulage practices /standards; and ageing trucks and lack of fleet renewal programmes, among others.

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) revealed that 411 persons lost their lives as a result of scooping fuel from fallen tankers nationwide in 2024.

    Shehu Mohammed, the FRSC corps marshal, explained that the key contributor to the high death toll in the country was the dangerous act of scooping fuel from crashed tankers.

    “It is pertinent to emphasise at this juncture that, out of the total fatalities that occurred in 2024, 411 deaths, representing 7.6 per cent of the total deaths, were not primarily caused by the crashes but a secondary factor, which is the very monster we are fighting today: scooping of fuel from fallen tankers”, Mohammed said recently.

    He, however, attributed the increased deaths to human factors such as reckless driving, overloading, and fatigue.

    Other stakeholders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the umbrella body of tanker drivers, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), attributed tanker fire accidents to several factors such as bad roads, drug addiction and recklessness on the part of tanker drivers.

    Comrade Afolabi Olufemi, General Secretary of NUPENG, blamed the development on human, mechanical and environmental factors.

    “In terms of the human factor, we talk about the behaviour of the driver himself. How does he handle the steering?” Olufemi said.

    On the mechanical factor, he decried the influx of fake spare parts in the market, which he said triggered the failure of some of the tankers on the highway.

    The NUPENG scribe said the state of the Nigerian highways is terrible.

    “Before you take a trip from Lagos to Calabar or Maiduguri and come back, your vehicle is in a total state of disrepair. This is one of the contributing factors”, Olufemi added.

    “Aside from that, there is the menace of Area Boys in Lagos. They mount on the truck to demand a bribe from the driver and threaten to decouple the tanker from the truck. This can be attributed to the incessant falling of trucks on Otedola Bridge.

    “And when you see fire happening as a result of a tanker crash, it is because people go there to scoop fuel. In the course of that, they trigger off the fire. So it is beyond the tanker drivers”.

    Also speaking, General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, flayed the state of Nigerian roads. Okugbawa noted that deplorable road infrastructure, such as potholes and poorly maintained highways, exacerbates the risk of tanker accidents.

    He said the movement of petroleum by rail remains the best solution to reduce the crashes, noting that a train movement for instance could take more than 30 tankers off the road.

    Timothy Iwuagwu, President of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, on his part, said that many tankers are not designed according to international best practices to avoid spillage during accidents.

    “There are also not enough awareness campaigns, (and) people are not willfully compliant with safety measures when such accidents happen”, the safety expert said.

    Way out

    Several agencies and stakeholders are working to mitigate the dangers posed by petroleum tanker accidents.
    The FRSC said it has established commands at tank farms to inspect tankers before they are allowed to load and transport petroleum products.

    Additionally, the commission disclosed that it has implemented special interventionist operations and mobile court sessions to deter dangerous practices like fuel scooping.

    Other stakeholders, including the NUPENG and the PENGASSAN, emphasize safety training for drivers, which includes collaborative workshops with traffic agencies, emergency services, and mental health professionals.

    Meanwhile, experts advocate a multifaceted approach involving improved road safety practices, better driver training, enhanced enforcement of safety standards, and investment in modern transportation infrastructure, better adherence to international safety standards, particularly regarding tanker design and maintenance to address the ongoing crisis.

    The adoption of modern trucks, installation of speed limiters, and investment in rail transportation to move petroleum products are also recommended to reduce reliance on road haulage.

    They also called the government, alongside relevant stakeholders, to work collaboratively to reduce the occurrence of these accidents and mitigate their impact on the public and the economy.

  • Outcry as Bayelsa vigilante chains widow, 71, to a pole

    Outcry as Bayelsa vigilante chains widow, 71, to a pole

    There was public outcry, weekend, following the viral video of a 71-year-old widow, Madam Sudinah Andrew, chained to a pole at the Market Square in Korokorosei Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government area by some members of the community vigilante group.

    A non-governmental organisation, End Violence against Women and Children, EVAWC, said the incident occurred on January 28, 2025, adding that the septuagenarian was falsely accused of wielding a cutlass against her daughter during verbal squabble.

    It was learnt that despite the allegation of possession of dangerous weapons levelled against the woman, some members of the community vigilante held a grudge against her for instigating police arrest against them last year over alleged harassment.

    A brother to the widow, Mr. Thankgod Andrew, told newsmen: “The vigilante group on January 28, 2025, dragged my sister through the community and chained her to a pole at the market square from January 28 – 29, 2025.”
    According to him, the vigilante group and some members of the community were alleged to have demanded for the sum of N50, 000 fines or flogging of 55 strokes of cane before she would be released.

    However, she was released after her relatives and some NGOs petitioned the State Police Command.
    The rescued widow was therefore taken to the emergency unit of the Government House clinic in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    While on the hospital bed, Madam Sudinah Andrew, told newsmen: “I was holding a cutlass because I was preparing to go into the bush to cut down plantain. I was cautioning my disrespectful daughter whose mother resides in another village. I told them I meant no harm but they insisted that I had committed an offence,” she said.

    The team lead of EVAWC, Tina Tari Youdubagha, condemned the vigilante, describing the act as barbaric and a violation of the fundamental rights of the woman.

    She said: “This case is inhumane and barbaric. I say no to it. We call on the Bayelsa State Police Command to investigate and give justice to the widow.”

    Also speaking, the founder of the Do Foundation, Dr. Dise Harry, said: “This is another case of man’s inhumanity to man. This incident had touched on my gender and we will not keep quiet once again.

    We are saddened by the fact that some persons have taken the laws into their hands by being a complainant, a prosecutor and a judge. It is time for a thorough and proper investigation into this case. We therefore call on the Bayelsa police command to please thoroughly investigate this case and bring the culprits to book. We have officially written to the Bayelsa Non Governmental Forum, BANGOF.”

  • 91 lives lost, 450 rescued: Lagos Fire Service releases 2024 emergency response report

    91 lives lost, 450 rescued: Lagos Fire Service releases 2024 emergency response report

    Lagos State Government, through the state Fire and Rescue Service, has disclosed that at least 91 victims were recovered dead, while 450 victims were rescued out of 1,952 fire and related emergency cases recorded in the year 2024.

    However, in the period under review, a total of ₦19.52 billion estimated properties were lost, while ₦117.12 billion estimated properties were saved.

    This was contained in an Executive Summary report of the service for the year 2024, which provided an overview of key activities and achievements.

    The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service was established by Law Cap 42, 1972, and is charged with ensuring the safety of lives and property from Fire and related emergencies.

    Meanwhile, the fire service has expressed commitment towards creating a safer, more resilient, and sustainable Lagos State.

    The director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, stated this at the 2025 staff engagement program, themed “Mobilizing Workforce Towards Fire Risk Reduction and Preparedness,” held at Alausa, Ikeja.

    The program was designed to upscale Lagos Firefighters’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to identify and mitigate fire hazards, respond effectively during emergencies, and promote a culture of fire risk reduction and preparedness. It also explored best practices with emerging technologies to improve effectiveness.

    In the executive report, “The fire rescue and related cases emergency calls recorded 1,952 total calls, out of which fire calls recorded 1,607, and 578 false calls.

    “₦117.12 billion worth of properties saved, N19.52 billion worth of properties lost, 450 victims rescued alive. 7,870 facilities were inspected, and 7,039 fire certificates were issued (to companies, hotels and restaurants, filling stations, schools/vocational, departments/stores, hospitals, fire dealers, and bakeries).

    “15 collapsed buildings recorded, while fire explosions recorded eight.

    “Public Enlightenment: 450 advocacy activities including media engagements and school visits.”

    Adeseye listed the constraints and challenges faced by the service, which included prank calls and hoodlum attacks.

    Also, two new fire stations were commissioned by the state governor, who approved increased staff allowances.

    Speaking on the staff engagement program, Adeseye said, “This event provides us with the opportunity to review our progress and identify areas for improvement as we continue working towards strengthening our service delivery in safeguarding lives, properties and the environments.

    “The theme underscores the critical role each of us plays in fire prevention and safety. Fire risk reduction and preparedness require the active participation and commitment of every individual in the society.

    “As members, we are the backbone of any strata of the society we belong to, and fire safety is a shared responsibility that demands our dedication and commitment both in our workplaces and communities.

    “We must also acknowledge the unwavering support of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration, which has prioritized the safety of Lagosians and empowered our agency. The recent signing of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Bill into Law is a significant milestone that strengthens Fire Safety Governance and operational capacity.

    “Let us work together to create a safer, more resilient and sustainable Lagos.”