Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has expressed condolences to the families of the victims of a tanker explosion that claimed no fewer than 35 lives and left 17 people hospitalised.
Bago, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, on Tuesday evening, described the incident as “worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened at about 2.40 p.m. when the tanker fell on its side in a lone accident.
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement sent to our correspondent on Tuesday, disclosed that following the accident, some residents had gone to the scene to scoop the spilt petrol.
He noted that while the residents were scooping the spilt content, fire engulfed the tanker.
Abiodun stated, “Today, October 21, 2025, at about 2.40 p.m., a report was received from the DPO of Katcha Division that there was a lone tanker vehicle accident along the Bida/Agaie highway, and as a result, the tanker conveying PMS fell by the roadside.
“Unfortunately, members of the public living around Essa village via Katcha rushed to the scene and were scooping PMS, and in the process, the tanker was suddenly engulfed in an inferno.”
He noted that out of the 48 victims affected by the fire, 31 people lost their lives at the spot of the incident, while 17 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“Sadly, forty-eight persons were affected by the fire, and among these victims, thirty-one persons lost their lives, while others are still receiving treatment in various nearby hospitals. Three motorcycles were also burnt.
“Teams of Policemen and other security agencies were moved to the scene for a rescue operation. Further investigation is ongoing to identify the driver and the owner of the said tanker,” Abiodun concluded.
Reacting, Bago prayed for the repose of the lives of the victims while expressing displeasure towards the act of petrol scooping.
“The farmer governor prays that Allah will repose the souls of those who died in the explosion and grant quick recovery to the injured.
“He says it is disheartening how people have continued to approach a fallen tanker to scoop its contents despite several sensitisation on the danger of such action.
“The farmer governor enjoins the people to value their lives no matter the situation,” Ibrahim stated in part.
The tragedy adds to the growing list of tanker-related explosions across the country.
PUNCH Metro reported in January that no fewer than 70 persons were burnt to death while scooping petrol from a crashed tanker in Niger State.
Similarly, a recent investigation by PUNCH Metro revealed that more than 400 people have died in tanker explosions nationwide over the past year, prompting the Federal Government to launch a national awareness campaign on the dangers of petrol scooping.
Security operatives on Monday fired tear gas canisters at protesters, including human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who had gathered in Abuja to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The protest, tagged #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow, was planned to take off from the Transcorp Hilton area and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but was disrupted as police officers moved in early, firing multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse participants and passersby.
The operatives, who had cordoned off the hotel and adjoining streets, began firing tear gas even before protesters arrived in large numbers.
Our correspondent had observed a visibly tightened atmosphere across the city on the way this morning.
Soldiers, police, and operatives of the Department of State Services were deployed to key locations, including the Three Arms Zone, Eagle Square, Federal Secretariat, Unity Fountain, and routes leading to Aso Rock.
Tears flowed freely on Saturday as the remains of the late Arise Television news anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly known as “Sommie,” were laid to rest in her hometown of Agulu, in the Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who attended the solemn ceremony alongside the deceased’s family members, friends, colleagues, and dignitaries, decried the insecurity plaguing the country.
Obi described Maduagwu’s death as heartbreaking and a painful reflection of the country’s worsening security situation.
Speaking after the Mass, Obi, who also hails from Agulu, said, “We cannot question God. When I heard of her death, I didn’t know that she was from Agulu even before I tweeted about it. Our coming here will help to console you, but we know that this loss is a huge one. It is the wish of God, and none of us can question Him. Please do remember her and her immediate family in your prayers.
“Before I left Birmingham yesterday, I told some people that I was rushing back to Nigeria for the burial of one of my daughters. I told them to remember to pray for her all the time as she will be buried today.”
Maduagwu, who was killed during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Abuja in September 2025, was buried around 1:30 p.m. after a funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Agulu.
Delivering a homily during the Mass, Rev. Fr. Peter Ezewuzie of St. Theresa’s Parish consoled the bereaved family and urged them to take solace in the belief that Maduagwu lived a meaningful and impactful life.
He said, “The Lord who created us knows the beginning from the end.
He is all-knowing, and some of you may be unhappy that a life has been cut short, but you won’t know if that is how God planned it.
“He (God) is an all-knowing Father, so I urge you to grieve less. God, who gave Christelle Somtoo Maduagwu to your family, loves her more than you do. The only thing you owe her is to continue to remember her in your prayers. She is in a better place today and will always remember us too.
“The maturity of life is the quality of life lived and not how long, and we can be sure that our sister lived a quality life. Let us strive to live our lives well. We are not here by chance; there is someone who brought us here and expects that we live good lives because no one knows when it will be their time.”
The deceased’s uncle, Obi Maduagwu, commended Arise News Channel for standing by the family since her passing.
He said, “We thank the management of Arise News. They have been with us right from the beginning. We thank all who journeyed all the way to be with us.”
The late journalist’s death in September sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s media community. Reports said the assailants invaded her Abuja home at night, and she was later confirmed dead at a nearby hospital.
Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues, friends, and prominent Nigerians, who described her as intelligent, hardworking, and full of promise.
Saturday’s burial drew journalists, government officials, and members of the Agulu community, all of whom paid their last respects to a rising media star whose life was tragically cut short, leaving behind memories of brilliance, humility, and hope.
The Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has decried the many lives lost on Lagos roads due to delays caused by onlookers taking videos instead of assisting first responders.
Represented by the Director of Medical Services, Lagos Health Service Commission, Dr Olawale Adegbite, Abayomi spoke in Lagos at a Symposium for stakeholders to mark the 2025 World Trauma Day with the theme: “Reducing Needless Deaths on Our Roads: Everybody’s Responsibility.”
He urged Lagosians to respect ambulances and prioritise saving lives first before taking videos at the scene of accidents, saying that saving lives on the road was not just the government’s responsibility, but a collective moral and civic duty of every Lagosian.
“Every time we block an ambulance or ignore an emergency call, someone’s parent, spouse, or child could be dying. Trauma care begins with public responsibility,” he said.
He reiterated resolution of the state government to strengthen emergency preparedness and trauma response mechanisms to reduce preventable deaths on Lagos roads.
He said that most trauma cases on Lagos roads were not accidents but preventable incidents caused by human errors.
He stressed that the state’s emergency systems, especially pre-hospital care and ambulance services, have been instrumental in saving lives but require continuous improvement and public cooperation.
Highlighting Lagos’ ongoing investments in emergency medicine, Abayomi noted that most trauma cases brought in by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) recorded higher survival rates compared to those transported by bystanders.
“Proper pre-hospital intervention makes the difference between life and death.
“Continuous staff training and retention were critical to sustaining success in trauma management,” he said.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, described trauma as one of the leading causes of preventable deaths and disabilities globally, particularly from road traffic crashes.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr Oluwatoni Adeyemi, Ogunyemi noted that Lagos State has made significant progress under the leadership of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, citing improvements in ambulance coverage, response time, and coordination among first responders.
She said: “We recently launched ten emergency ambulance bikes to ensure faster access to victims in congested areas and also commissioned modular high-dependency units in Ifako and Mushin General Hospitals.
“These interventions are part of our drive to bring critical care closer to communities and reduce delays in life-saving interventions.”
She further emphasised that the theme of this year’s commemoration underscored the fact that reducing trauma-related deaths goes beyond government efforts.
“It requires everyone—drivers, pedestrians, health professionals, civil society, and the media—to play their roles in building a culture of prevention and prompt response,” she said.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, said the story of “Mr Andrew,” a trauma survivor treated at the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre (LASAEC), represented the essence of the symposium.
Ogboye recounted how coordinated emergency response and government-backed trauma care saved a man who was left comatose after a crash on the morning of his daughter’s wedding.
He stressed that pre-hospital care was a crucial but often neglected component of healthcare.
He revealed that the Lagos State Government was expanding trauma centers across the state, with new facilities being established in Epe, Eti-Osa, and Badagry corridors in partnership with private sector allies such as Custodian Allied Insurance and Access Bank.
He added that the state’s ambulance service had evolved into a world-class system with well-equipped vehicles serving as mobile intensive care units.
“There’s hardly any equipment you’ll find in advanced ambulance systems that our units don’t have – ventilators, defibrillators, and fully trained emergency technicians. Lagos has come a long way,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary also called for attitudinal change among motorists and the general public, especially in giving ambulances the right of way.
“You move aside for convoys and security vehicles, yet block ambulances carrying lives. That behavior must change. It could be your loved one in that ambulance,” he warned.
In his presentation titled “The Traumatic Story Being Rewritten,” the Medical Director, LASAEC, Dr Adeolu Arogundade, told the true story of Mr Andrew, who was hit by a car and left unconscious for months but survived through state-funded care.
Arogundade said the case epitomised the 41,000 trauma cases successfully treated at LASAEC in the last 15 years, with a commendable mortality rate of just 1.4 per cent .
He lauded the Lagos State Government for sustaining a policy that guarantees free emergency care for all trauma victims within the first 24 hours, emphasising that the policy’s funding—though sometimes delayed—remains vital to saving lives.
“Behind every statistic is a human story. Each percentage represents someone’s father, mother, or friend who lived because a system worked.
“Our success is proof that trauma care is everyone’s business; from road users to rescuers and administrators,” he said.
The Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Kehinde Hamzat, underscored the grim reality that most crash-related deaths were avoidable.
Citing WHO data, Hamzat, also a Guest Speaker, said that Africa bore a disproportionate share of the 1.3 million global deaths from road traffic crashes yearly, with Lagos inclusive due to high vehicle density and weak road discipline.
Hamzat warned that unsafe behaviours such as speeding, drunk driving, and disregard for traffic laws remain major culprits, stressing that effective trauma management begins with prevention.
“No matter how advanced our hospitals become, if we don’t change road behaviour, we’ll keep losing lives needlessly.
“Our collective vigilance, compliance, and compassion are what will make our roads safer and our emergency systems more responsive,” he said.
As the symposium ended, participants resolved to deepen inter-agency collaboration, intensify public sensitization, and push for behavioural change campaigns across the state.
Ivory Coast authorities have imposed a sweeping two-month ban on political rallies and demonstrations just a week before a presidential election, in a move further restricting opposition activity.
The ban, announced late Friday by the interior and defence ministries, applies to all political parties and groups except the five candidates officially approved to contest the October 25 vote.
It comes amid rising tensions following the exclusion of opposition heavyweights Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam from the race.
Hundreds of people rallied at protests in Abidjan last weekend, with security forces dispersing crowds. Sporadic unrest, including road and school blockades, has been reported in several regions.
Around 700 people have been arrested over the past week, according to public prosecutor Oumar Braman Kone, who said phone data revealed calls for attacks on public institutions which he described as “acts of terrorism”.
On Thursday, 26 protesters were sentenced to three years in prison for public order offences, and another 105 are due to stand trial next week.
The opposition coalition, which includes Gbagbo’s African Peoples’ Party — Ivory Coast (PPA-CI) and Thiam’s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, has denounced President Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term.
Amnesty International urged authorities to stop “repressing” protests, but Justice Minister Sansan Kambile defended the crackdown, citing national security concerns.
Ouattara faces four challengers, including former minister Jean-Louis Billon and ex-first lady Simone Gbagbo.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has inspected the ongoing production of Nigerian Air Force aircraft and helicopters at the Leonardo S.p.A’s defence manufacturing facilities in northern Italy.
Badaru, who was part of President Bola Tinubu’s delegation to the AQABA Process meeting, visited Leonardo’s Helicopters Division in Vergiate and Aircraft Division in Venegono, where key platforms for the NAF are being assembled.
This is contained in a statement by the Personal Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Mati Ali, on Saturday in Abuja.
Ali said the Minister, at the helicopter division, reviewed progress on ten AW109 Trekker attack helicopters being built for Nigeria.
According to him, three have been completed and are ready for delivery, another three will be ready before the end of 2025, while the remaining four are expected in early 2026.
He said the minister also inspected the production of M-346 Fighter Attack Jets, six of which were at advanced stages.
According to him, three are already undergoing flight tests, while the next three are due for testing soon.
“The 24 aircraft will be delivered in four batches, complete with weapons, tools, spare parts, and logistics support,” he said.
In his remarks, Badaru expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and praised Leonardo’s engineers for their professionalism.
He said the acquisitions demonstrate the Tinubu administration’s commitment to modernising the armed forces and strengthening Nigeria’s defence partnerships.
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a man, Lawal Faruq, who allegedly set fire to his ex-lover after their relationship went sour.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Thursday that the incident happened at a military barracks in Ibadan, the state capital.
A counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, who shared details of the incident on X, disclosed that the suspect claimed he and the victim had taken an oath never to separate.
However, the suspect was said to have become enraged after the romantic relationship between the duo broke down.
Enraged by the situation, the suspect allegedly doused the victim with petrol before setting her ablaze.
Following the incident, military personnel at the barracks reportedly rescued the victim and rushed her to a hospital before arresting the suspect.
Makama wrote, “The victim, Omolola Hassan, was reportedly doused with petrol and set on fire by the suspect, who was said to have been angered over the breakdown of their relationship.
“According to witnesses, military personnel at the barracks quickly intervened and extinguished the fire before rushing the victim to Yawiri Hospital, Akobo, for medical treatment.
“The suspect, who claimed that both had taken an oath never to separate, is currently in custody.”
When reacting to an enquiry posed by our correspondent via the telephone on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident.
Osifeso noted that an investigation was ongoing into the case.
“Investigation is ongoing,” Osifeso said in a terse message sent to our correspondent.
Cases of violence arising from failed romantic relationships have become increasingly frequent in Nigeria.
PUNCH Metro reported in July 2025 that a Uniport student, Cynthia Chukwundah, set her lover on fire during a heated argument over a pregnancy dispute. The victim later died from the injuries.
Similarly, in January 2023, PUNCH Metro reported that a middle-aged man strangled and then set his lover ablaze over infidelity accusations in Rivers State.
Also, PUNCH Metro reported in April 2023 that a 43-year-old man was arrested in Ogun State for setting the apartment of his ex-lover ablaze when she refused to reconcile.
Such cases reflect a broader pattern of domestic violence in Nigeria, often driven by emotional, psychological, and economic stressors.
The Katsina State Police Command has arrested an 11-man syndicate of suspected notorious armed robbers terrorising people on Sha’iskawa-Charanchi and Katsina-Kankia-Kano roads.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Aliyu, told newsmen on Wednesday in Katsina that the suspects had specialised in blocking those roads, robbing unsuspecting motorists.
He listed the suspects as Dikko Maaru, Dardau Kabir, Muntari Musa, Labaran Amadu, Usman Maaru, Lawal Zubairu, Nasiru Sanusi, and Adamu Kabir.
Others were, Abdullahi Zubairu, Muhammad Usman and Sale Shehu, all between the ages of 21 and 35.
He said, “The breakthrough came on Sunday at about 10am hen a member of the syndicate was intercepted while attempting to dispose of some proceeds of their heinous act, following a credible intelligence report.
“Acting swiftly on the tip-off, our operatives were able to track down and apprehend the suspect, leading to the arrest of other members of the syndicate.”
The PPRO explained that during the investigation, 80 wristwatches, nine cellphones, and a knife were recovered from the suspects as exhibits.
He further said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Bello Shehu, commended the operatives for a job well done and appreciated the support of the public.
Aliyu quoted the CP as urging the public to continue providing useful information that would aid in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.
He stated that the suspects would be charged in court after investigations.
The Jigawa State Police Command, in a major crackdown on drug trafficking, arrested no fewer than 105 suspects during simultaneous raids across the state.
The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, at the Command’s headquarters in Dutse, the state capital.
SP Adam revealed that in recent raids, officers of the Command searched every nook and cranny of Jigawa to root out illegal drug activities. “Our men left no stone unturned,” he said, emphasising the determination to rid the state of the drug menace.
According to him, the raids led to the recovery of over 5,000 illicit drugs and intoxicating substances, including cannabis and various hard drugs.
Moreso, SP Adam provided a detailed list of the substances seized, highlighting the scale of the operation.
Among the recovered items were 2,541 units of Exol and 1,146 units of D-5, both commonly abused drugs in the region.
Also confiscated were 270 packets of Tramadol and over a thousand wraps of cannabis, including one block.
Other seized substances included 269 units of Diaxer, 153 Pregabalin capsules, and 82 units of Farin Malam.
The police also nabbed various other illicit drugs such as Diazepam, Vegakris, and Calidon’s.
However, SP Adam disclosed that cash amounting to N92,460 was recovered from the suspects, alongside other substances like rubber solution, suck and die, and dry gin. “This bust sends a strong message to those involved in drug dealing,” he said.
The police spokesman urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activities. “Our fight against narcotics is ongoing, and we need everyone on board,” SP Adam added.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, says the Nigeria Customs Service recorded over six billion Naira in September.
Issa-Onilu made this known at the Monthly National Joint Security Press Briefing on Monday in Abuja.
The briefing organised by NOA is supported by the security agencies, paramilitary, and regulatory organisations in the country.
He noted that September was marked by strategic engagements, operational milestones, and collaborative initiatives that reaffirmed the Service’s central role in advancing Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.
”The Service continued its steady march toward reform, innovation, and stakeholder trust, as each activity during the period reflected its enduring commitment to transparency, efficiency, and institutional renewal under the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi.
“In the month of September, the NCS recorded a total revenue collection of ₦658,605,400,392. This figure demonstrates the Service’s sustained fiscal performance amid ongoing reforms and heightened enforcement efforts.
“It reflects the cumulative contributions of various commands and operations aligning with the broader strategy to strengthen revenue mobilisation and minimise leakages across the system,” Issa-Onilu said.
The NOA boss also noted that, within the period under review, a high-level strategic engagement between the NCS and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria was held.
He explained that the engagement provided a platform to strengthen trade relations, promote policy harmony, and chart a sustainable course for industrial growth.
Issa-Onilu added that it reinforced the service reform agenda, anchored on collaboration, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility for economic development.
“The engagement also reflected the service recognition of the manufacturing sector as a key partner in national productivity and a driver of Nigeria’s non-oil revenue diversification efforts.
“On the operational front, the Service took another major step toward enhancing trade efficiency through the introduction of a One-Stop-Shop platform, an innovation designed to minimise cargo clearance time, reduce procedural bottlenecks, and ensure seamless coordination among stakeholders within the trade ecosystem.
“In enforcement and border security, officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ recorded a major success through the interception of firearms, industrial drones, and other prohibited items within the Southwest Region.
“This operation exemplifies the service’s vigilance, operational intelligence, and unwavering resolve to safeguard national borders against illicit trade and transnational threats.
“The interception further reinforces the service’s dual mandate of trade facilitation and security enforcement, ensuring that legitimate trade thrives while threats to national safety are neutralised,” Issa-Onilu said.
He stressed that the Service demonstrated its continued commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) by supporting sister agencies and contributing to community development initiatives across various formations.
According to him, these efforts reflect the service’s understanding that security and trade are strengthened when institutions collaborate and communities are empowered.
He added that commendation on the service by the Board of Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) served as an external validation of ongoing efforts to build an institution anchored on professionalism, accountability, and mutual trust.
“The feat recorded in September stands as evidence that the Service is not merely evolving; it is setting new standards in institutional excellence, reform communication, and national service delivery,” he further said.
Last month, the service announced that between January and June 2025, it collected a total of N3.6 trillion as revenue. https://punchng.com/customs-revenue-hits-n3-6tn-in-six-months/#google_vignette
The National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that the figure represents a remarkable performance above expectations.
In June, PUNCH Online reported that the Senate Committee on Customs raised the Nigeria Customs Service’s 2025 revenue target from N6.584tn to N10tn, following a commendable performance in surpassing its 2024 revenue expectations.
