IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Residents of Uduophori Community, Delta State, staged a protest on Monday, blocking roads to Bomadi and other areas after suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Freedom Akpodiete, a 28-year-old motorcyclist, amputating his hand.

Protesters accused the herdsmen of preventing farmers from working, destroying crops, committing sexual violence, and demanding ransoms. Community leaders, including ThankGod Ado and Pa Benjamin Obotorino, condemned the 15-year-long crisis, calling for urgent government intervention.

The community also alleged that herdsmen had taken over a local primary school, forcing its closure. They urged authorities to take immediate action before the situation worsens further. 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the sale of Direct Entry (DE) forms for candidates seeking admission into higher institutions will begin on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

In a statement on Monday, JAMB spokesman Fabian Benjamin emphasized that the registration process is essential for individuals with degrees, diplomas, or A-level certificates who wish to gain direct entry into universities of their choice.

“The commencement of Direct Entry sales follows the successful completion of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application, which ended on March 8, 2025. During this period, JAMB recorded 2,030,627 UTME registrations, 200,115 for the Mock-UTME, and 630 applications for the trial mock exam,” the statement read.

JAMB has warned against false declarations, stating that a special committee will verify all Advanced A-Level qualifications. Any fraudulent entries will result in prosecution. Institutions are also urged to verify certificates directly before granting admission.

Candidates can only complete their Direct Entry registration at JAMB Professional Registration Centres (PRCs). 

The Federal Government has allocated $1 billion to support 36 states in reducing child and maternal mortality across Nigeria. Dr. Ali Pate, Minister of Health, announced this while unveiling the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) in Ogun State.

As part of the initiative, 774 healthcare facilities will be upgraded to provide free emergency obstetric care, and states will receive incentive payments based on their healthcare improvements. Key focus areas include maternal education, nutrition, and emergency transport systems.

In Ogun State, the government has increased healthcare funding to 13%, hired 800 health workers, and provided 80 emergency tricycles to address high maternal mortality rates. Stakeholders are urged to adopt data-driven strategies to ensure long-term health improvements. 

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an arrest warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Retd.), and four other commissioners after they failed to appear before the House.

The warrant was approved during Monday’s plenary session, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, following the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum issued to the officials. This came after an initial 48-hour deadline expired on Friday.

Meanwhile, Ibiemebo Evelyn Thompson, the RSIEC Commissioner for Transport, Logistics, and Store, resigned on Monday, citing the Supreme Court ruling that nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections in the state. Her resignation follows that of Lazberry Nnah and Professor Simeon Weli, who stepped down last week for the same reason.

With Justice Enebeli yet to respond to the Assembly’s summons, his next move remains uncertain. 

Rev. Father Maurice Kwairanga has raised concerns over the 27,986 unemployed individuals in Taraba State, representing 1.9% of the population.

Speaking at the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo’s Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) program, he emphasized the link between unemployment and rising crime, militancy, and social unrest.

To tackle this issue, the Diocese launched a skills acquisition program, "From the Street to the Credence," designed to train 100 disadvantaged youths in trades such as masonry, carpentry, tailoring, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. He stressed that equipping youths with entrepreneurial and technological skills would help them gain employment and contribute to national development.

Rev. Father Clement Tiba, JDPC Jalingo Diocese Coordinator, highlighted the commission’s long-standing efforts in youth and women empowerment, human rights protection, sanitation, food security, and governance. He noted that many communities in Taraba still lack potable water, and through partnerships with organizations like Misereor, Germany, JDPC has been working to improve clean water and sanitation access.

Meanwhile, Bishop Charles Hammawa urged parents to encourage their children to embrace hard work and entrepreneurship instead of depending entirely on them for financial support. He advised youths to pursue small businesses and vocational activities, emphasizing that perseverance leads to long-term success. 

The Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, has refuted claims that Taledo Damian, the suspected kidnapper of two Catholic priests, was a mass server or cleric within the diocese.

Speaking at a press conference in Yola, Bishop Mamza clarified that while the suspect was a church member, he did not hold any official role.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that the kidnapper is not a mass server, nor is he a cleric. There has been a lot of misinformation about his identity, and it is important to correct this,” he stated.

He emphasized the need to protect the reputation of clergy members and mass servers from false accusations.

Bishop Mamza commended security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilante operatives, for their swift efforts in rescuing the abducted priests—Rev. Father Mathew David Dusami (Yola Diocese) and Rev. Father Abraham Samman (Jalingo Diocese)—who were kidnapped on February 22, 2025.

According to the bishop, security forces stormed the captors’ hideout and successfully rescued the priests. The suspect initially escaped but later crashed while fleeing on a motorcycle.

“He attempted to surrender to the DSS but somehow ended up in police custody,” Bishop Mamza explained.

Following their rescue, the priests underwent medical examinations and were confirmed to be in stable condition. All evidence recovered from the suspect is now in DSS custody.

The bishop reaffirmed the church’s commitment to working with security agencies to safeguard clergy members and worshippers.