Headlines
(See Video) SS2 Student Creates stampede in Rivers School after Opening Teargas Canister
Many students were injured on Thursday at the Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when an unidentified student allegedly opened a teargas canister in the classroom.
Some of the students, who were almost choked by the smoke from the canister, were seen in a video clip that has gone viral, jumping from the first floor of two storey building housing the secondary school.
It was learnt that the 17-year-old student in SS 2 got the teargas canister from the room of his late father who was a policeman.
The teargas canister was said to have exploded and the sound sent students jumping down from the first floor, while those at the top floor were seen in the video running for safety.
The incident, according to a source, happened in the morning and forced everybody out of the school premises for the entire day.
It was gathered that several students sustained various degrees of injuries as they frantically tried to escape from the two-storey classrooms block as smoke covered the entire floor.
An eyewitness, identified only as Nene, told SUNDAY PUNCH that some of the students, who jumped from the first floor fractured their bones.
Nene added that most of the victims were still hospitalised in a nearby private clinic.
She said, “An SS 2 male student opened a teargas canister in their classroom and out of fear; the students started jumping off the first floor. Many were injured and are still in Ana clinic, which is just close to the school. The hospital management had insisted that the parents of the injured students admitted in the hospital should pay their bills before they can discharge.”
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, told The Punch that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, informed him that an SS2 students brought a teargas canister to the school.
Omoni explained that the teargas canister was kept in a room by the student’s late father.
He said, “The boy and some of his classmates began to fiddle with the canister before it exploded while they were in the classroom. The boy has been arrested and investigation is ongoing.”
Omoni, however, dismissed the claim in some quarters that the incident was cult-related.
The Punch
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
