Metro
Shi’ites Invade NASS Complex, Force Reps to Adjourn Plenary
Protesting members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria on Wednesday stormed the National Assembly, Abuja, forcing the House of Representatives to end its plenary abruptly.
Chanting solidarity songs and demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky, the Shi’ite members forcibly entered the NASS complex after overwhelming the security operatives at the gate.
Following the incident, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun, announced that the Shi’ite protesters had gained entry into the NASS premises and adjourned the sitting. The lawmakers subsequently left the chambers.
Lasun, who was presiding over the consideration of committee reports, said he had the information that the sect members had crashed the first gate and were gaining entry into the premises.
The Deputy Speaker asked the sergeant-at-arms to go out and confirm the report. The security official, who returned to the chambers, reported that it was safe to continue the sitting. He said the protesters had been prevented from entering the complex.
The lawmakers shortly after, stepped down the remaining items on the Order Paper to Thursday. It could not be confirmed if the adjournment was as a result of the protests.
Punch correspondent, who visited the gate shortly after to confirm the invasion, observed that though the protesters made attempts to gain entry into the premises, they were prevented by the combined team of security operatives who manned the gate.
It was gathered that the IMN members were initially peaceful but tension heightened when the policemen locked the first gate and attempted to prevent them from accessing the complex.
Some of the protesters reportedly massed at the gate, shaking it vigorously while the outnumbered policemen withdrew from the scene.
After shaking the gate for some minutes, the protesters succeeded in forcing it open.
The massive crowd of men, youths and women dressed in black surged into the NASS complex causing panic among visitors and lawmakers as they chanted Allahu Akbar.
However, the crowd did not advance into the chambers following appeals from their leaders.
Members of the IMN have held regular protests to demand the release of their leader and his wife who had been in custody since December 2015 following a bloody confrontation with soldiers in Kaduna during which hundreds of IMN members were killed.
The leader of the sect is currently facing trial for alleged “culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace.”
The acting spokesman for the FCT Police Command, Danjuma Gajere, said the police were able to control the protest which he said involved over 2,000 Shi’ite members, adding that no arrest was made.
He said, “We were able to manage the protest which involved over 2,000 people, but there was no arrest.”
The Punch
Sweepers across Lagos State on Saturday took time off the streets to be celebrated by Glo Foundation, the social responsibility arm of Globacom. It partnered their employers, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to host a special day to celebrate those who keep the streets of the state clean.
Hundreds of sweepers from all local governments and LCDAs in the state participated in the event, which was held at LAWMA’s Ijora Olopa Head Office in Lagos. Thanks to Globacom, the sweepers, who are often overlooked by society despite their demanding responsibilities, became the event’s main attraction as they danced and took part in a number of entertaining activities, such as games and prize draws.
Speaking at the event, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, the head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Globacom, said that the organization had chosen to honour the cleaners with a Rest and Relaxation event as a way of showing appreciation for the vital work they do every day, which often puts their lives in danger on the state’s highways. She added that the Glo Foundation’s efforts would also expand to other states in various forms of intervention.
Said she: “We recognize the important and thankless jobs that you do all over the state in ensuring that our roads and streets are clean every day. We recognize the hazards you face from drivers who don’t appreciate you and are at times impatient while you are by the roadside sweeping. It is the reason why we are here today to let you know how much we value you and your huge contributions to keeping Lagos clean on a continuous basis”.
She also disclosed that empowerment and skills acquisition programmes would be held for the sweepers in the following months. They include Fashion Skills (Fashion Design, jewelry making, Fabric Embellishment & Beading); Baking skills: (Basic cake and decoration, Fried and baked pastry, Bread making, soft skills and Entrepreneurship class); Digital Skills (Digital marketing, social media management, and e-commerce).
LAWMA’s Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, was full of admiration for Globacom’s offer to create a day to honor sweepers around the state. He also said the agency is pleased with the telecommunications company’s partnerships which he believed would encourage and motivate the sweepers to do even more.
He urged other corporate entities to follow Globacom’s example and reaffirmed the significance of the sweepers’ work in promoting the health and welfare of the populace.
Some of the sweepers thanked Globacom and the LAWMA Management for the chance to relax with their coworkers and for Glo’s exceptional gesture of appreciation to them. Lagos-born Rejoice Aniekwe Ifeoma revealed that working with LAWMA has given her the chance to better herself and establish a second source of income to support herself. Ifeoma, who is presently undergoing computer literacy training, stated that she spends her leisure time selling Tigernut and Zobo beverages. She was grateful to Globacom for providing this chance for leisure.
Another sweeper, Awolaja Esther, an Ikorodu resident, revealed that she has been employed by LAWMA for almost 15 years, using the position to establish an additional revenue stream in Ikorodu. She is training two undergraduates at the moment. She commended Globacom for organizing a day to honor and recognize her and her coworkers.
As part of the fun and excitement created exclusively for the sweepers, Globacom also held a lucky dip to give out various items including sewing machine, Inverter Microwave oven and grinding machine to some of the sweepers.
Madam Dorcas Adeniji, a resident of Oshodi in Lagos, won the grinding machine. She could hardly contain her joy as she danced after receiving the item. Mrs Adewusi Bisola, who resides in Alakuko in Agbado Oke Odo LCDA, won an Inverter Microwave oven. Her friends almost mobbed her when she came out to receive her prize. Another winner, Ige Sadatu, who won a sewing machine, thanked Globacom for the gift she was taking home.
Telecommunications and digital solutions company, Globacom, has said its Examination Preparatory Service was specifically designed to help students excel in Computer-Based examinations.
Reacting to the poor performance of students in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) examination, the company explained that the Glo Examination Preparatory Service trains students on practical ways to excel in Computer-Based examinations such as Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Junior and Senior West African Examination Council examinations as well as IELTS.
The 2025 UTME results released by JAMB on May 5 had elicited widespread concerns as more than 1.5 million out of 1.9 million candidates whose results were released scored below 200. A breakdown of the results released by JAMB on Monday showed that 983,187 candidates (50.29%) scored between 160 and 199, while 488,197 candidates (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159.
Globacom said in a press statement in Lagos that the Glo Examination Preparatory Service would help combat poor examination performances especially among secondary school students who take the listed exams.
The service offers targeted approach to exam preparation, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the format, structure, and content of the exams they will be undertaking, the company explained, adding, “By engaging with these practice materials, students can identify areas of weakness, reinforce their understanding of key concepts, and develop effective exam-taking strategies”.
According to Glo, users of the service which covers up to twenty subjects with links to educational videos and materials can subscribe by dialling *20791*6# on their mobile lines and selecting their intended exam from the menu. The content is supplied on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis and the user will be charged at the applicable price for each successful subscription while specific exam categories will be treated under each content to allow users pick their choice exams amongst the categories available in the service. The categories include JSCE (Junior Secondary Certificate Exam); SSCE (Senior Secondary Certificate Exam); UTME Exam (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam) otherwise called JAMB and A-Levels Exams.
The service will give practical tips on how to become familiar with the format, structure, and type of questions asked in the exams, thereby increasing their success rates when they participate in the exams; identify areas where they may be struggling within the exams and how to address the challenges by actively answering practice questions to reinforce their understanding of key concepts and principles covered in their syllabus. “This active recall enhances long-term retention and comprehension”, Glo said.
Customers who opt-in for this service will have access to trivia questions built around the exam syllabus with top scorers in the exam winning fantastic airtime, data, and cash prizes.
Authorities in Kaduna State are currently dealing with a case of multiple rape of a 14-year-old girl by different men leading to conception and eventual delivery of a baby boy.
Already, Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kaduna has order the remand of 10 of the suspect at a Correctional Facility over the incident, while the eleventh person is said to be on the run.
The teenage girl living with disability, according to the First Information Report (FIR), resides in Likoro village, Kudan Local Government Area.
The FIR continued that the suspects raped the victim continuously at different intervals by luring her into their various abodes.
An Inspector of Police, Yakubu I. Lemu, currently prosecuting the case, told the court that the multiple rapes resulted in pregnancy and the birth of a baby boy four months ago, adding that the act contravenes section 257 of the Kaduna State Penal Code.
He said: “According to the FIR on 27th October, 2024 at 6.30 pm, one Usman Yusuf reported that he discovered that his younger sister, Fatima Maikanti, was six months pregnant. He said, when questioned, she revealed that at different locations, at different times the suspects lured her to their various places in the village and had sexual intercourse with her, as a result, she became pregnant and was delivered of a baby boy.
“Investigation revealed that each of the suspects had sexual intercourse with the victim at different locations which contravened section 257 of the Kaduna State Penal Code.”
Justice Abubakar Lamido, who is handling the matter, said the court is waiting for advice from the Ministry of Justice and ordered the suspects to be remanded at the correctional centre pending the transfer of the case to the High Court.
He adjourned the matter to May 22, 2025 for mention.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, while vowing that the government would pursue the case until justice is served, added: “The victim was raped continuously when she was 14-years-old after which she became pregnant. Now she has a baby that she cannot take care of because she is also a baby and too small to handle a child.
“The Kaduna State government also has laws that protect women and children and even vulnerable people, the Child Protection and Social Welfare and the Violence Against Persons (VAP) laws as well as the sex offender registry where we register the names of offenders to serve as a deterrent to others. The case is pathetic, both the victim’s parents are blind and she also has one eye.
“The girl has given birth now to a child of four months old, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) that was handling the case and now retired had silence the case, but with the help of the Commissioner of Police (CP), the case has been reopened as a fresh case because the incident happened over a year now and she has a four month old child.
“The former DPO arrested them and also released them on bail, capital offence is not supposed to be granted bail that is why we reopened the case as a fresh case to re -arrest them. We that the Commissioner of Police and his team for their quick action of re-arresting the suspects.
“The State will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure the victim gets justice. The government will take care of the social welfare of the child and the mother because she is also a child, so they are going to be under our care for their social protection.”
Rabi warned the general public that the government will not tolerate any act of abuse, torture and molestation of women, children and especially, people living with disability.
