Emir lauds ACReSAL’s impact on rural dwellers in Gombe

Alhaji Yakubu Kwairanga, the Emir of Funakaye, on Friday, lauded Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project’s impact on the lives and livelihoods of rural dwellers in Gombe State.

Kwairanga gave the commendation in Bajoga town of Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State during the distribution of energy-efficient cooking stoves to communities in the council.

He stated that ACReSAL project had helped in improving the lives of rural dwellers especially with its intervention in addressing land degradation, climate change impacts, and promoting sustainable development.

He said that ACReSAL had become a household name in view of the numerous environmental and empowerment projects being carried out in various communities across the state.

“I want to commend ACReSAL for their efforts in ensuring that rural dwellers and their livelihoods are protected.
“This is really commendable as living standards of residents of many communities have been improved.

“Today, energy-efficient cooking stoves are being distributed to rural dwellers and we are very happy because it will help improve their lives and help them save money.

“The tree planting campaign by ACReSAL is really impressive as it is helping to reclaim our land which has been affected by desertification,” he said.

Kwairanga warned beneficiaries of the stoves not to sell them, stressing that the essence of the distribution was to help alleviate economic challenges associated with cooking while helping to protect the environment.

Also speaking, the Gombe State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr Sani Jauro, said the distribution of the energy-efficient cooking stoves was part of efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Jauro said no fewer than 800 stoves would be distributed to seven communities in the Council while the traditional rulers would be given 100.

He stated that the stoves would help reduce dependence on traditional, inefficient cooking methods, which contribute to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

“These stoves are very efficient, as they use small amounts of briquettes and they will help low-income households to reduce costs while minimising deforestation caused by tree felling for cooking fuel.”

The state coordinator said that the event also provided an avenue for ACReSAL to engage with stakeholders at the grassroots on critical climate-change-related issues.

Jauro said that the event was also leveraged to sensitise the grassroots on the need to support Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State’s efforts at tackling environmental challenges by sustaining ACReSAL project and encouraging tree planting.

Corroborating Kwairanga, Jauro said that ACReSAL has impacted on lives and livelihoods of the people of the state, empowering women and youths out of poverty.

He said that ACReSAL projects in the state have restored degraded land, improved agricultural practices, and strengthened rural livelihoods through community-driven approaches.

He called on residents of the state to approach any of their nurseries across the state to collect free tree seedlings for planting, stressing that the task of combating impact of climate change was a collective approach.

Emir lauds ACReSAL’s impact on rural dwellers in Gombe

Mother raises alarm as 2-year-old daughter stolen from hotel in Aba

By: Zagazola Makama

A 20-year-old woman, Elizabeth Alaoma, has reported the disappearance of her two-year-old daughter, Precious Ahiwe, under suspicious circumstances while lodging at a hotel in Aba, Abia State.

The incident occurred on the night of July 22, after Alaoma checked into Hotel De California in the city with her daughter, following an invitation by a man identified as Promise and a woman he introduced as his sister.

According to Alaoma, Promise took her out under the guise of buying food around 10:00 p.m., but later abandoned her at the food vendor’s location. She rushed back to the hotel only to discover that her daughter, Promise, and the woman had all vanished, and the hotel room key had already been returned to the receptionist.

A search at the hotel led to the recovery of the child’s clothes. Two hotel staff the receptionist, Victor Uzoma (17), and the manager, Emmanuel Kalu (35) were taken into custody for questioning.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover the missing child as investigations continue.
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Correctional officer allegedly murders apprentice, dumps body, dies by suicide in Lokoja

By: Zagazola Makama

A tragic incident has shocked residents of Lokoja, Kogi State, after a senior officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service allegedly killed a 26-year-old photography apprentice, concealed his body in a freezer, and later took his own life in a hotel.

Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred on Monday, July 22, and involved a Deputy Superintendent of Corrections (DSC), Adebayo Oluwapelumi, who until his death was attached to the Kogi State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

According to witness accounts, the case came to light after Ujah Goodness, a photographer with a studio located opposite the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, reported the matter.

Goodness stated that around 7:50 p.m. on the day of the incident, he was editing photographs with his apprentice, Ayo Ayipelumi, aged 26, when the Correctional officer, Adebayo, arrived at the studio and called the apprentice outside for a brief conversation.

Moments later, Goodness said he heard frantic screams from his apprentice calling for help. However, out of fear, he did not step outside to investigate but instead quickly contacted local vigilantes to intervene.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly attacked and killed Ayipelumi. He then reportedly placed the victim’s lifeless body inside a deep freezer, loaded it into a white unregistered Hilux van, and drove off to an undisclosed location.

Acting on the report, security personnel launched a search for the vehicle. It was later found abandoned around the Nataco Junction area of Lokoja. Although the corpse was no longer in the vehicle, investigators found blood stains inside the freezer and recovered a machete believed to have been used in the attack. Photographs of the scene were taken, and the vehicle along with the exhibit was moved to the station for forensic examination.

Efforts to trace the whereabouts of the suspect and recover the victim’s body were still ongoing when a new development emerged.

At about 12:10 p.m. the next day, the management of Abidan 115 Guest Inn in Lokoja contacted authorities after discovering a lifeless body in one of their rooms. The deceased was identified as the suspect, Adebayo Oluwapelumi.

Upon arrival at the hotel, investigators found the suspect naked and lying dead on the floor. A suicide note, a bottle of Sniper insecticide, and a plastic Coca-Cola bottle were recovered at the scene, suggesting that he ingested the toxic substance.

Photographs of the scene were taken, and the body was evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead. His corpse was deposited at the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.

The whereabouts of the victim’s body remains unknown as of the time of filing this report.

Investigation is ongoing to unravel the full motive behind the gruesome killing and to trace the missing remains of the apprentice.

Correctional officer allegedly murders apprentice, dumps body, dies by suicide in Lokoja