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Tinubu recounts how ex-Governor Obaseki frustrated establishment of National Obstetrics Fistula Centre in Edo

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday recounted how the immediate past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, frustrated the establishment of a National Obstetrics Fistula Centre in Benin City, the state capital.

We reports that a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, made available to newsmen, said President Tinubu gave this account during the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the centre in the state.

Tinubu spoke through the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ishaq Salako, who led a delegation to the State Government House for the signing of the MoU.

According to him, in May 2023, just before President Tinubu assumed office, the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre was established in Benin City.

“The centre did not receive the necessary cooperation from the then government of Edo State, led by Godwin Obaseki.

“We struggled from May 2023 till November 2024 before you became the Governor of Edo State, but in about three months, we have achieved what we could not achieve in about 24 months.

“All thanks to your administration. We appreciate your support, as we have been able to secure a temporary centre to begin operations in Benin City.

“His Excellency has also allocated 24 hectares of land for the permanent centre. You have demonstrated that you are a political son of the President, who is prioritising healthcare at the federal level, while also doing the same in Edo State,” he said.

The President, who noted that fistula is a serious health challenge, added that Nigeria has the highest burden of fistula cases in the world.

He said about 12,000 cases of the disease are recorded annually in the country.

He further stated that fistula is not just a medical condition but also a social and psychological issue, as some individuals with the condition resort to suicide.

The President noted that the Federal Government has launched a free fistula management programme, which also provides social support and rehabilitation.

He disclosed that, as of today, about 1,700 cases have received free treatment, expressing hope that the programme will continue to expand.

In his remarks, Governor Okpebholo commended the President for transforming Edo State, stating that the people would continue to appreciate him for the various development-oriented projects he has initiated.

Okpebholo emphasised that healthcare is a priority for the people of Edo and that the centre would serve not only the state but also the wider South-South region and neighbouring states.

“The Chief Medical Director of the centre has been struggling for the past two years. This centre belongs to the South-South, but it is located in Edo, and Edo people will benefit from it.

“I have no excuse but to support the establishment of the centre. The hospital will commence operations soon, as the Edo State Government is committed to supporting it, and we thank the Federal Government for choosing Edo State,” he added.

 

 

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Air Force officers, filling station manager arrested for alleged torture, killing of attendant

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Two personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and two civilians, including a filling station manager, have been arrested by the Kaduna State Police Command in connection with the alleged torture and killing of a fuel attendant in Kaduna.

The arrests, which were made public in a post on Tuesday by security analyst Zagazola Makama via his official X handle, followed the reported death of Joseph Isaac Fada, a 28-year-old staff of Albash Filling Station located along Airport Road in Kaduna.

According to police sources quoted by Makama, the case began on April 30, 2025, when Amina Abdurrazaq, the 40-year-old manager of the filling station, accused Fada of misappropriating ₦335,522.00 from fuel sales.

She subsequently handed him over to personnel at a nearby military checkpoint operated by the Nigerian Air Force for investigation.

Fada was allegedly detained overnight by operatives of the 413 Force Protection Group of the Nigerian Air Force, where he was reportedly tortured until he fell unconscious. Instead of taking him to a hospital, the officers allegedly took him to a local patent medicine store where he later died while receiving treatment.

Police investigations led to the arrest of Sgt. Achibong Friday Udoh and LCPL Ayodele Glory Blessing of the Nigerian Air Force, as well as Amina Abdurrazaq and Maryam, a 51-year-old woman believed to be the owner of the medicine store where Fada died.

All suspects have since been transferred for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been deposited for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

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Russia suspends drone attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure

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Russia announced on Wednesday that it has suspended its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure following a phone call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

The Kremlin also stated that it had shot down its own Ukraine-bound drones while they were in the air.

During their call on Tuesday, Putin agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities but declined to approve a full 30-day ceasefire, as proposed by the US president.

“They were just lining up in combat order—six of them were shot down by ‘Pantsirs’ (a surface-to-air missile system), and another one was destroyed by a (Russian) military aircraft,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov accused Ukraine of failing to honour the proposed 30-day moratorium on strikes against each other’s energy infrastructure, claiming that Kyiv had attempted to attack Russian energy facilities overnight.

Meanwhile, the Russian military earlier on Wednesday accused Ukraine of deliberately attempting to sabotage the temporary moratorium by launching a drone attack on an oil depot in southern Russia.

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Boat mishap in Delta: Families apprehensive over missing 20

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Families of more than 20 people still missing following last Monday night’s boat mishap in Delta State remain anxious.

While at least five people have been confirmed dead, 20 others are still unaccounted for.

The accident occurred when two speedboats, carrying passengers returning from a burial ceremony, collided along the waterways.

Most of the passengers in the ill-fated boats were reportedly not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

Local volunteers are combing the river in search of the missing victims, hoping to rescue any survivors.

Eyewitnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described hearing desperate cries for help. Some passengers managed to swim to safety, while many others disappeared in the water.

A local resident, David Umunede, attributed the fatal crash to poor visibility, describing the scene as tragic.

As of the time of filing this report, only five bodies had been recovered.

The Delta State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, confirmed the incident, stating that six survivors had been rescued, though not without injuries.

According to him, the injured are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Warri.

“This is a tragic accident, and we are working with marine units and local divers to locate the missing passengers,” Edafe said.

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