Metro
Train Crushes Tricycle Operator, Three Passengers to Death in Lagos
A tricycle rider and three passengers on Tuesday lost their lives in a crash on Shina Peters Road, Iju-Ishaga, in the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the tricycle rider was commuting five passengers from the Giwa area of Iju-Ishaga to Abule-Egba, when tragedy struck around 6.30am.
It was learnt that the rider was about to cross the railway line in the area when a speeding train crushed the tricycle.
While the rider and three passengers died on the spot, two other passengers reportedly survived.
One of the survivors was reportedly rushed to hospital for treatment.
A witness, Baseet Hussein, said the second survivor jumped out of the tricycle before the crash occurred, adding that he escaped unscathed.
Hussein said, “The rider was at top speed because he wanted to quickly cross the railway line. We even shouted to alert him that the train was too close for him to go. While the passenger beside him jumped out, it was too late for others, as the train ran over them. One other man escaped as the train dragged them away; he was injured and rushed to the Longe Medical Centre for treatment.”
Another witness, Gbemisola Adetunji, while lamenting the incident, said it could have been averted if a bridge was constructed at the junction.
She blamed the deceased tricycle rider for allegedly refusing to listen when residents raised the alarm on the impending danger.
I saw the tricycle under the train. Parts of it were scattered. When I moved closer, I saw four corpses. The remains of two of the passengers were all over the place. The train did not stop after the accident.
“I learnt that the tricycle was coming from Giwa and heading for Abule-Egba. I overheard another tricycle rider lamenting that he warned the deceased rider not to cross, but he never listened,” Adetunji added.
Our correspondent, during a visit to Longe Medical Centre where one of the survivors was taken to, observed that the patient was in a critical condition.
A doctor at the hospital, who identified himself only as Samuel, said the victim bled from the head and right leg when two Good Samaritans brought him to the hospital.
“He was brought in around 7am. He was still conscious when the Good Samaritans brought him here. What we did immediately was to set intravenous fluid to stabilise him.
“After thoroughly cleaning his wounds, we bandaged his leg and placed him on antibiotics and tetanus injections. It may take weeks for him to fully recover,” the doctor said.
The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Adesina Tiamiyu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the accident was caused by recklessness, adding that four people were confirmed dead.
He said, “On arrival at the scene, it was gathered that a tricycle with five people on board had a collision with a moving train. Further information gathered at the scene showed that the immediate cause of the incident was recklessness on the part of the tricycle rider, who was trying to cross the railway line. Unfortunately, four persons, including three males and one female, lost their lives and one male escaped unhurt.”
Tiamiyu, who advised motorists and tricycle riders to always exercise patience when crossing tracks, said the remains of the deceased were handed over to officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit.
The Punch
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme found him guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased on April 8, 2022.
The judge sentenced Nwachukwu to death while sentencing him after the court had held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge bordering on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively, while it tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing the defendant, counsel for Nwachukwu, Reginald Nwali, pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment, while the prosecuting counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment on Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
The late gospel artist who had several tracks, including Ekwueme died on April 8, 2022, at the age of 42. Her death triggered outrage in the country, with fans and Nigerians calling for justice for the singer.
In a heartwarming display of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Prostar Sport International, a renowned sports equipment and apparel company, has partnered with the ‘Pad Me A Girl Initiative,’ to promote menstrual health awareness and empower young girls.
The project enunciated by Gatmash Media has commended the company, renowned for providing high-quality sports dresses, has supported the initiative with customized shirts.
Theresa Moses, Convener of the Pad Me A Girl Initiative said “We’re thrilled to have Prostar Sports International on board this initiative. Their customized shirts will not only promote our cause but also serve as a symbol of solidarity with the girls we’re working to support”.
Mr. Paul Maduakor, CEO of Prostar Sports International said “At Prostar Sports International, we believe in empowering young girls and promoting menstrual health awareness. We’re proud to support the Pad Me A Girl Initiative and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community”.
The shirts feature a bold design with the Pad Me A Girl Initiative’s logo. This is aimed to promote menstrual health awareness and obliterates stigmas attached to it. It was disclosed that the shirts are made from high-quality, breathable fabric for comfort and durability.
The initiative has made significant impact, and has reached over 2,000 young girls and women in Abuja and Benue IDP camps, and has provided reusable sanitary pads and menstrual health education, empowering girls to manage their menstruation with dignity.
The next phase of the project will kick off in June/July 2025, with plans to expand the initiative’s reachout and impact. Through the ‘Access PAD Me A Girl,’ PAD Bank, young girls will continue to receive free sanitary pads every month, empowering them to manage their menstrual health with dignity.
Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, a non-denominational ministry, on Monday opened the first ever Old People’s Home and Orphanage in Imo State.
The Seraphic Home, located in Mgbirichi, Ohaji Egbema, near Owerri, was commissioned by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who described it as a watershed in the provision of care for the elderly, needy and less privileged.
Uzodimma praised the Spiritual Director of Zion Ministry, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi, for “thinking home” and bringing meaningful development to the state, adding that he was delighted with the choice of Imo State for such an impactful project.
According to the governor, “Evangelist Ebuka’s decision to expand the ministry’s operations in Imo has placed the state on a path to greater global recognition” —a vision he said he had foreseen when initially allocating land for the ministry’s headquarters in Ngor Okpala.
Evangelist Ebuka Obi, in his welcome remarks, said that the home was built to provide care for orphans and the elderly, especially those without anyone to support them. He invited the elderly with no caregivers to take advantage of the facility, which offers free accommodation and care.
“This state-of-the-art facility will provide a safe and nurturing environment for orphans and elderly individuals, offering them a sense of belonging and care. The home will provide shelter, food, clothing, education, and healthcare, and ensure that the residents receive the support they need to thrive,” Evangelist Ebuka disclosed. He said that the home would provide comprehensive care for old people and orphans free of charge, adding that more of such projects would be cited in other parts of the country.
The Seraphic Orphanage and Home for the Elderly will be a safe space for vulnerable populations to receive care and support and provide opportunities for community engagement and volunteerism and a platform for skills development and capacity building for caregivers and staff, Ebuka concluded.
Zion Ministry’s Seraphic Home foundation is a non-profit charitable organization with the objective of touching and impacting lives positively and promoting the welfare of others. It runs a whole range of programmes which support disadvantaged and impoverished families by providing scholarships for different levels of Education for over 60 children yearly as well as funding for patients who are unable to afford life-sustaining treatment and pay hospital bills for various health challenges.
