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Kwara Declares War On Child Marriage, Gender Violence

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Kwara Declares War On Child Marriage, Gender Violence

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has cautioned that the state will no longer tolerate child marriage.

He threatened to wield full enforcement of laws protecting the rights and dignity of the girl child.

According to him, the warning was a bold stance against entrenched cultural practices threatening the well-being of young girls.

Speaking at a one-day Media Hangout, Capacity Training and Policy Advocacy in Ilorin for selected journalists, non-governmental organisations and other key stakeholders, themed “Safeguarding Our adolescents at homes, schools and communities to reach their full potential”, organised by Chidimma and Havilah Foundation in collaboration with the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the governor warned that early marriage poses grave danger to girls’ health, future and freedom.

He disclosed that the state has domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. “We are fully committed to its implementation. Early marriage is not only a violation of the Child Rights Act, it is a life-threatening menace that leads to complications like obstetric fistula and robs young girls of their dreams,” the governor said.

Represented by the Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima-Imam, AbdulRazaq commended the partnering NGOs, pledging his administration’s support for adolescents in the state.

In his lecture, titled “Empowering the Next Generation: The Media’s Role in Nurturing Safe Environments for Adolescents”, Kwara State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Abdulganiyu Dare, reinforced the need for national mobilisation and grassroots advocacy to uphold the rights of every Nigerian child.

He said that media literacy, parental responsibility, and sustained government actions are keys to reversing the trend of violence, neglect, and abuse facing Nigerian adolescents.

The NOA boss emphasised the essential role the media plays in shaping the future of adolescents and nurturing safe environments for them.

Dare also outlined several strategies aimed at empowering adolescents to navigate the digital world responsibly and safely.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NUJ Kwara council, Malam Abdullateef Lanre Ahmed, drew attention to the alarming rise in technology-driven gender-based violence, citing recent cases of ritual-related killings involving young girls.

“The tragic case of Hafsoh, a student of Kwara State College of Education, is a wake-up call. We must collectively act to protect our children,” he said.

He called for the holistic implementation of the VAPP Act and urged parents to embrace open conversations around sex education, online safety, and the risks of digital exposure.

In his remarks, the founder of the Chidimma and Havilah Foundation, Mr Tope Omotosho, who spoke through Miss Havilah Omotosho, emphasised the foundation’s dedication to adolescent empowerment, particularly for vulnerable girls.

“Our partnership with the NUJ is to amplify advocacy and create mass awareness on how to protect adolescents, especially the girl-child, within the family, in schools, and the workplace,” he said.

Omotosho lauded the unwavering support of the First Lady of Kwara State, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, describing her as “a dependable ally in the fight for a safe and inclusive society for young girls.”

He pledged the foundation’s continued investment in campaigns, sensitisation programmes, and community engagements aimed at preventing abuse and promoting girls’ education, healthcare access, and personal development.

Veteran broadcaster and former Commissioner for Sports in Kwara State, Alhaji Hameed Adio, challenged media professionals to champion value-based content and combat moral decay among young people.

“The media must take a proactive role in setting new narratives, showcasing excellence, discouraging harmful content, and engaging in advocacy journalism that inspires positive change,” he said.

He urged media houses to embrace digital tools and social platforms to expand their reach, counter misinformation, and promote the autobiographies and success stories of inspirational Nigerians as a counterweight to celebrity culture and sensationalism.

He also called for communal mentorship revival, adding that traditional systems of guidance and discipline must be modernised and institutionalised to protect adolescents from abuse, addiction, and exploitation.

The event brought together journalists, advocates, and civil society leaders to strengthen the role of the media in safeguarding adolescents from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Guardian.ng

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JUST IN: EFCC Arrests 3 Party Chieftains For Vote-Buying In Anambra [PHOTOS]

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested three suspected vote buyers in various parts of Anambra.

The suspects are Emeka Ilokasia arrested at Ward 2, Njikoka Local government, Anambra; Nwachuwu Loretta, arrested at Ward 2(008), Awkuzu, Oyi local government and Emuka Chuwudi, arrested at Umunachi village, Dukonukofia local government.

All the suspects were arrested while participating in the governorship election held on Saturday, November 8, 2025

They will be charged to court as soon as the anti-graft Commission concludes investigations.

 

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Truck Crushes 3 University Students To Death In Lagos, Injures Many- Video

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Lagos, Nigeria – A tragic accident in Ikorodu, Lagos, has claimed the lives of three students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) after a sand-laden truck lost control due to brake failure.

According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the fatal accident occurred around Powerline Junction, inward Ikorodu Roundabout.

The sand-laden truck reportedly rammed into several vehicles and injuring seven others.

LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the truck was travelling at high speed before it lost control and collided with multiple vehicles and tricycles along the busy corridor.

“In an incident of profound tragedy that cast a pall of grief over the Ikorodu metropolis, three promising students at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu — two males and one female — lost their lives instantaneously in a fatal multiple-vehicle collision,” Taofiq said.

He added that seven others, including tricycle operators, sustained serious injuries in the horrifying crash.

The vehicles involved included a sand-laden tipper (unregistered), a Toyota Corolla (SMK 42 AJ), an MPV bus, and four tricycles.

LASTMA said preliminary investigations by traffic operatives revealed that the truck’s excessive speed and mechanical brake failure caused the driver to lose control, leading to the deadly crash.

Emergency responders from LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police were quickly mobilized to the scene.

Taofiq said the injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, while the remains of the deceased students were deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.

“Together, they swiftly conveyed seven critically injured victims to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment, while the three deceased casualties were evacuated and deposited at the General Hospital, Ikorodu mortuary,” the statement read

LASTMA also confirmed that the wrecked vehicles had been removed to restore free vehicular movement in the area.

Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the deaths, describing the crash as “avoidable.”

Bakare-Oki urged truck operators and commercial drivers to maintain their vehicles and avoid over speeding. “This tragedy is avoidable. Over speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and defective braking systems continue to cause, on Lagos roads,” he lamented.

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Tension In Kano As Shi’ite Members Protest Trump’s Invasion Threat, Drag US Flag On Ground

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Shi’ite members in Kano protested President Donald Trump’s “false genocide claim” and invasion threat in Nigeria

Protesters who dragged and burned the U.S. flag accused Trump of inciting religious division

The movement also called for unity amongst citizens, saying Nigeria’s problems are political, not religious

Kano, Nigeria – Tension erupted in parts of Kano on Saturday, November 8, as members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites, took to the streets to protest the recent statement by United States President Donald Trump threatening to invade Nigeria.

The protest, which took place in several parts of the Kano metropolis, saw large crowds chanting anti-US slogans while carrying placards expressing displeasure with the alleged remarks.

The members are described as “a dangerous and false narrative” by the U.S. president. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria dismissed Trump’s remarks as “provocative, inflammatory, and deeply misleading.”

A spokesperson for the movement, Abdullahi Danladi of the IMN Resource Forum, told journalists during the protest that the group would not tolerate attempts by foreign leaders to sow religious division in the country.

“The statement by President Trump is false and provocative. It is part of a long pattern of Western propaganda designed to pit Muslims and Christians against one another. Nigeria’s challenges are driven by corruption, greed, and poor governance — not by religion,” Danladi said.

He accused the U.S. government of double standards, noting that America had no moral ground to lecture other nations about human rights when it continues to fuel wars and instability across the Middle East.

“We reject this form of neo-colonial arrogance. Nigeria does not need military intervention. What we need is peace, justice, and equity,” he added.

During the protest, some demonstrators were seen dragging the American flag on the ground, while others set effigies of the U.S. president ablaze.

Placards carried by the protesters bore inscriptions such as “We condemn Trump threats,” “Stop dividing Nigeria,” and “Trump, mind your business.”

According to sources who spoke to Legit, Security operatives were deployed across key areas to monitor the march, which later converged near the Emir’s Palace before dispersing peacefully

Danladi urged citizens to remain calm and avoid being manipulated by political or foreign interests seeking to destabilize the nation.

“Both Islam and Christianity teach love, justice, and compassion. Those who exploit religion for politics are the real enemies of peace,” Danladi said.

Let us stand together as Nigerians. Let us reject foreign interference. Our destiny is in our own hands,” he added.

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