Edo State Police Command has detained the husband of Toluige Olokoobi Babalola, mother of the famous boy Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola, who went viral in 2020 for telling his mother to “calm down” while she was scolding him.
Spokesperson of the Command Chidi Nwabuzor told BBC Pidgin on Thursday that Mr Babalola was detained over his wife’s death.
A resident said that Mrs Babalola worked in Benin City as medicine distributor while her husband was a taxi driver and car dealer.
News of Mrs Babalola’s death by suicide broke on Tuesday on X.
Confirming the incident, Nwabuzor said Babalola reported the matter to the police.
The police spokesperson quoted him to have said that “he came home from the market when he saw his wife hanging with rope on her neck”.
He said Babalola told the police that his wife took her life in front of their one-year-old child.
He said Babalola and wife had three children.
Nwabuzor added that Babalola said she was rushed to the hospital and then to the mortuary after she was confirmed dead.
Nwabuzor said the case would be transferred to the homicide section of the Command’s CID for further investigation.
In 2020, Oreofeoluwa became so popular that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu met him.
The viral video inspired Mr Sanwo-Olu’s Eid-el-Kabir message to the Muslim faithful.
Oreofeoluwa was featured in several interviews with media houses. He also said he wanted to be a police officer to help fight corruption in Nigeria.
The boy made his movie debut in Kunle Afolayan’s 2021 film Swallow.
A secondary school teacher, Lateef Olaniran, has been arrested for allegedly raping two young ladies within 24 hours in Ogun state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Adijat Olaleye, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
According to the statement, Olaniran was a native of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, and was a Mathematics teacher at Ebenezer Grammar School, Iberekodo, Abeokuta.
It was said that he was an employee of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission with the number, OGNO.30650.
The commissioner explained further saying, he was arrested on Saturday when a member of her team got a call from a young lady reporting that a man had raped her.
The Commissioner said the Ministry swung into action and located the victim, who she said was taken to a laboratory for different tests before she was later led to the police station to make a report.
“We thereafter went with the police to the accused home but after several knocks, he refused to open the gate. We were able to locate the brother to the house owner who assisted us in gaining access to the compound,” she explained.
Adeleye stated that when they got into the compound of the suspect, “we heard a girl’s cry for help, and with the support of the police, we caught Mr. Olaniran Lateef Adewale a secondary school mathematics teacher at Ebenezer Grammar School Iberekodo, Abeokuta.”
The Commissioner added that the girl crying in the teacher’s room during his arrest also accused him of “forcibly having sexual intercourse with her and threatening to kill her if she does not ask her family to send him money.”
Adeleye confirmed that the suspect has been remanded at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters for more investigations.
The Police in Katsina has confirmed the death of nine persons after a Maulud procession at night was attacked by bandits in Rugar Kusa village in Musawa Local Government Area.
A terse statement by the Police spokesman in the state, ASP Abubakar Aliyu reads: “On November 5, 2023, at about 2230 hours, armed bandits in their numbers, wielding dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles and shooting sporadically, attacked the Maulud procession at Rugar Kusa village, Musawa LGA, Katsina State.
“Upon receipt of the report, immediately, operatives were mobilised and swung into action, where they succeeded in repelling the attack. Seven (7) people were shot dead, and eighteen (18) people sustained gunshot injuries as a result of the attack and were evacuated to General Hospital Musawa for immediate medical attention.
“However, two (2) people out of the injured were confirmed dead by the doctor while receiving treatment. The investigation is still ongoing. Efforts are on with a view to arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act. “Further development will be communicated in due course.”
Maulud processions, it was learnt take place among Muslims in many parts of the country. While some others engage in recitations, many conduct processions to mark the occasion.
It was difficult to find out on Tuesday why the procession was conducted at night in the highly volatile state, and it was not clear why the bandits chose to attack a religious procession.
The implementation of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Act to be dissected by Kennedy Iwundu, (PhD) will be the main attraction for the November general meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja (Unity Bar), tomorrow Friday.
A notice of the Branch’s general meeting signed by the Publicity Secretary, Michael Awo Ejeh reads:
NOTICE OF NBA, ABUJA BRANCH GENERAL MEETING
The November 2023 meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch (Unity Bar), will hold as follows:
DATE : Friday, 10-11-2023 TIME* : 04:00 PM (West Central African) VENUE : Hybrid (Physical and Virtual)
Physical – Auditorium, NBA National Secretariat, Central Business District, Abuja
Both refugees and internally displaced persons including women and children across the border communities have continued to suffer hunger, malnutrition and rejection in the society while the Nigerian government looks aside.
In recent times, several Humanitarian bodies have raised alarm over the high rate of mortality among women and children while surviving refugees are facing an uncertain future as they have remained unproductive in many camps after fleeing from their communities.
Stakeholders in the health emergency sector confirmed an extraordinarily high number of children under-five years with malnutrition in various internally displaced camps across five states across this northwest region in Nigeria where these children were moved to as a safer haven.
“Honestly, northwest are states next to this nutrition emergency with a large-scale health and malnutrition crises after Maiduguri,” says Tijjani Andrew, a Sokoto based humanitarian worker.
An abandoned refugee camp provided by Nigeria
Conflict of hunger
In September 2022, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), was alarmed by the malnutrition crisis in northwest Nigeria that was rising at catastrophic levels.
The organisation, in a statement in September last year indicated that from January to September 2022, they treated about 100,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition in its outpatient facilities across five northwest states of Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi
“We have treated close to 100,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition in 34 outpatient facilities and admitted about 17,000 children requiring hospital care in 10 inpatient centers,” Dr. Simba Tirima, MSF Country Representative in Nigeria had stated.
But as at the end of the year (2022), MSF had treated 147,860 children with severe acute malnutrition across northwest Nigeria.
The humanitarian body has since called for response to the emergency needs of people in the region and wanted media to focus coverage on the northwest communities where infant children were dying of acute malnutrition.
It also believes that through media efforts, northwest Nigeria could be included in the United Nations humanitarian response plan as this would enable a broader and more sustained response.
Musa Gandi, a member of Red Cross, an international humanitarian organisation, said most of the Internal Displaced Persons in the state had complained about the lack of basic amenities like water sanitation and medical care.
“Despite that, they are not ready to even vacate most of these camps unless the government can guarantee their security and rebuild their houses.” Musa points out.
The failed promises
In 2021, the erstwhile governor in Sokoto’ state, Aminu Tambuwal visited some displaced persons camps in Dan Daji Makau, Tudun Sunni and Garin Kaka all in Guidan Roujun of Niger Republic.
The governor, now elected as a parliament member at Nigeria’s upper legislative assembly, had promised a process that could ensure that the displaced persons are relocated and resettled back to their various communities.
But, most of the refugees told TheWill how the promise went unfulfilled before he left office in May, 2023. “We were happy when the government visited our camps and promised to rebuild our homes and resettle us by the end of 2022. But nothing was heard again.” Saida’atu Junaid, a refugee returnee said.
A member, representing Sabon Birnin South constituency at the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Aminu Almustapha also told TheWill how the immediate past government could not show enough concern for the plight of his people,
To Ukashatu Muhammad, who is the Director General of Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), “Accessing thousands of Nigerian refugees in Niger Republic communities has been a nightmare for Nigerian authorities.”
“I can remember when we moved to most of these camps to assist Nigerian refugees in Niger Republic. They are almost turned down by Nigerien authorities. It took the intervention of some traditional leaders of both countries to make it possible for us.”
He also promised that the current government is putting a lot of mechanisms together to ensure that the Refugees are returned to their communities.
The State Emergency Agency’s spokesman, Ghani Abdullahi said the state and other stakeholders have been collaborating to ensure both the refugees and Internally Displaced persons are given the necessary succor.
“Sokoto SEMA, NEMA and International Organization Of Migration [IOM] have jointly assessed the sympathetic situation of some IDPs. Our latest visit was in Tangaza-Gidan Madi and other communities in Binji LGAs of Sokoto State.”Ghani explained.
He said the team while at the camps, the assessment team learnt that hundreds of people including women and children were displaced as a result of banditry activities in the state.
“The team also found that the displaced persons living in those buildings are currently faced with the problem of shortage of potable drinking water, shelter and food among others. Other challenges faced by those IDPs in the camp including women and children include malaria, typhoid and diarrhea.”
“What the present governor is doing is to put in place viable security by providing logistics vehicles to the security agencies in the state. “We have also earmarked palliatives for the Internal Displaced Persons across the state and the Refugees living across the border communities.” Ukashatu explained further.
Sani Danjika, a Refugee at Gandi IDPs camp, RabbahMalam Hali, 72-yrs-old says most of his contemporaries have died since arriving at Gandi IDP’s camp
Any hope?
Despite the widespread humanitarian situation within the border communities, officials at the Sokoto’ zonal office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have denied any knowledge about the plights of the displaced persons.
Upon TheWill’s enquiries, the head of Operations at the agency office in Sokoto, Aliyu Kafindangi declined any official comment. However, an official who pleaded in anonymity said the agency has not received a formal request from the Sokoto state government for any humanitarian assistance.
“Honestly, the NEMA office in Sokoto is unaware of any humanitarian crisis faced by the Nigerian refugees along the Nigerien communities.
“Besides that, we will need a formal communication from the state government before we can activate any humanitarian assistance, and that would be from the headquarters, Abuja,” the official explained.
The unnamed official recalled how NEMA had intervened in similar refugee crises in both Cameroon and Benin Republic but added that providing relief materials to those in Niger Republic “could be possible, if activated by the state government.”
Like NEMA, similar efforts made to get official response from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, (NCFRMI) were unsuccessful.
In response to the refugees’ claims, a Freedom of Information enquiry dated 25th September, 2023 was sent by TheWill to the Commissions’ email address; [email protected] provided on its website.
TheWill’senquiry was addressed to the Federal Commissioner in charge of the commission, asking details about the commission’s humanitarian activities within the northwest states and steps it had taken to ensure Nigerian Refugees living within communities in Niger Republic were safely returned and resettled back to their homes.
The FOI had guaranteed the right of unhindered access to public information, including information held by all federal government agencies, despite this provision, there was no official communication with TheWill as at the time this report was filed by the two agencies.
Yemi Oladimeji, a public affairs commentator said it is alarming to see displaced persons catering for themselves without government assistance. He pleaded that all hands should be on deck to help the families of bandit attacks be rehabilitated.
“What the Government at all levels should try to do now is to return these people and empower them with skills.” Oladimeji urged.
Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, Country Director, International Alert, and Peace, Security and Justice professional with extensive experience in policy communication, research and Peace building, said that the decision to perpetrate violence or defect from it begins in the mind.
“This largely depends on what narratives a person is exposed to, and how vulnerable or receptive they are to it. However, the key question is: Where is the real battlefield, are we focused on winning the battle or winning the war?
“Why do youths choose to join? How best can those who have been associated be brought back to civilian life and how communities be made to work together in promoting peace.
“Therefore, while military forces deal with the physical threats; efforts must be made to reinforce narratives that promote defection, rehabilitation and social cohesion,” he said.
The country director said that the event was aimed at increasing public awareness on the role of the media in promoting positive messaging and reducing harmful cultural norms.
“This workshop will provide the opportunity for key actors to generate alternative narratives, key messages, identify targets, and appropriate channels for achieving behavioural change outcomes.
“The efforts entail promoting policies and actions that aim to prevent populations from committing or supporting violence that is justified using Ideology,” he added.
Nyulaku-Bemshima said the workshop would also address the root causes, prevent recruitment and radicalisation and narratives that fuel violence and instability.
This report was culled from The WILL published on 5 November 2023
No fewer than three persons were allegedly attacked by yet-to-be-identified individuals in Degri, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The victims, who were attacked on Saturday include a judge of the Upper Area Court III, Ayuba Buba-Dalas, Barr. Usman Yahya, and a court staff.
PUNCH gathered that the court usually conducts a physical assessment of issues relating to land disputes to ascertain the cause of conflict.
However, Buba-Dalas embarked on the tour to take the land measurement to ascertain the rights of the parties before it.
An eyewitness who narrated the ordeal of the trio said they were attacked by villagers upon sighting the team.
A comment accompanying the photographed bloodied face of the judge in a WhatsApp group reads: “Above is allegedly an upper Area Court judge mercilessly beaten by villagers in Gombe State where he went to visit the locus in quo. If correct, Judges may be well advised to always go along with adequate security whenever going to visit the locus in quo no matter the proximity, and indeed, anywhere else. Also, legal practitioners who are fond of attending the scene of levying execution may be accordingly advised. It is a season of anomie.”
Locus in quo is a Latin phrase which means the place where a legal cause of action arose.
According to the source who begged for anonymity, “They went to a locus in Degri, Balanga LGA to ascertain the true owner of the land. It was then people in the village attacked them with weapons.”
The Nigerian Bar Association, Gombe State branch, through its Publicity Secretary, Bashir Abdullahi confirmed the incident in a post sighted by Sunday PUNCH.
“Good morning distinguished learned silks, seniors and colleagues. This is to notify the esteemed members of the Jewel Bar that there will be a visit to His Honour, Ayuba Buba-Dalas (UAC III JUDGE), and Usman Yahya Esq., over a sad incident that happened to them yesterday while on a visit to locus at Degri,” Abdullahi’s statement partly read.
The Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Hon Walter Ozioko has suspended his Special Adviser on Transport, Mr Michael Emeka Nwangwu.
This was confirmed in a press statement signed by the media aide to the Chairman, Mr Ejike Okpe.
He said in the press statement that: “In total abhorrence, rejection and condemnation of the dastardly, debasing and abominable act perpetrated by his Special Adviser on Transport, Mr. Michael Emeka Nwangwu, who, also, goes by the name, ‘Emmanuel, the People’s Mayor, Hon. Dr. Barr. Walter Ozioko, the Executive Chairman of Nsukka LGA, has, today, Tuesday, 7th November, 2023, terminated the appointment of the said Michael ‘Emmanuel’ Emeka Nwangwu.”
A sack letter signed by the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon Michael Ugwu read in part, “I am directed, after all necessary consideration by the Executive Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, to terminate your appointment for conduct unbecoming of an honourable member of the Council and your appointment is hereby terminated.”
In the letter, he was directed to hand over every property belonging to Nsukka LGA under his custody to the Secretary of the Council.
A viral video in circulation showed where the suspended government official was making love with a married woman at a place believed to be his office within the local government secretariat.
However, DAILY POST reports that in an audio clip also circulating on social media, Nwangwu blamed his action on the woman, who he accused of mounting pressure on him until he succumbed to the temptation.
He equally disclosed that the woman, named Philomena Omeje, lied to him about her marital status, adding that the first time they made love was after he drank soft drink brought to his office by the woman in question.
“She told me that she was no longer with the husband; the pressure was too much; she never behaved like a married woman; she mentioned to me all other people who are dating her. I am so sorry that I succumbed to this temptation.
“She frequents my office and would always throw her legs wide open once she comes in.
“One of the days, she came with biscuits and RC coke; I don’t know how she came about it, but she said it’s just for us to eat; it was after consuming it that I started making love with her.
“I am a man, she was rubbing herself all over me, and she was pantless, I could not resist her any longer; she was not putting on any underwear; I feel so sorry right now, everyone should forgive me,” he begged.
He said the video was released on social media by some men brought by the woman in a desperate bid to extort money from him.
“The video is not the first time we are making love; I just recorded that video on that particular day to have evidence. I was scared that someone could set me up; that’s why I did the video. She was even holding the phone in one of the videos.
“The boys he brought to beat me up demanded that I transfer one million Naira to them; they saw that there was no such money in my account; they then transferred every kobo in my account; the woman was there.
“I was asking her, ‘why are you doing this to me?’ She said I should just obey the boys and transfer the one million Naira.
“After that, they now dragged me to Opi Junction, where they claimed that I was caught raping Philomena; it was from there that we were taken to the police station.
“The DPO interviewed us, during which the woman now said I did not rape her; we were then both detained for two days. She said she framed me up because she felt I had money but didn’t want to give her.
“I made a mistake by sleeping with Philomena; it was a temptation I could not resist; she comes to my office almost naked; and would open everything up right there in my office.
“All I am saying is the truth; the same group that she brought to beat me up were the same people that posted the video to social media. I started receiving calls that our video was trending.
“I am really so sorry, but the truth is that she told me she was no longer with her husband.
“Ever since my wife left, I have never slept with any woman; I don’t have such time, but the temptation from the woman was so much. I am sorry, everyone should forgive me; it’s an embarrassment to me and a very great lesson to me.”
The trending video also showed said married woman spreading her wrapper on the ground while Nwangwu was seen trying to shield his own face. The special adviser however showed the woman’s face and private parts in the video, which is suspected to have been recorded by him.
Adultery is said to be forbidden in Nsukka area and is believed to have grievous consequences on the perpetrators including their offspring.
Alan Fisher adds longest individual baking marathon winner to title
Chef Hilda Baci has congratulated Irish Chef, Alan Fisher, who emerged as the latest Guinness World Record holder for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
The Guinness World Records on Tuesday disclosed that Fisher from Ireland cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes at his restaurant in Japan.
Reacting to Fisher’s success, Baci who is the former record holder, congratulated Alan on her X account on Tuesday.
She wrote, “Huge congratulations to Alan Fisher! 119hrs 57mins is a huge achievement, and I wish him all the best as the new world record holder!”
Alan secured the title for the longest individual cooking marathon, setting a new record with an astonishing time of 119 hours and 57 minutes.
This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Nigeria’s Chef Hilda Baci by over 24 hours.
In addition to this, Alan also claimed the title for the longest individual baking marathon, clocking in at 47 hours and 21 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Wendy Sandner from the USA, who had a time of 31 hours and 16 minutes.
Alan took on both challenges consecutively, spending over 160 hours in the kitchen with just a little over a day of rest in between the two record-breaking attempts.
Toluige Olokoobi Babalola, the mother of the beloved boy from the viral “Mummy Calm Down” video that captured hearts three years ago, has tragically taken her own life.
Her death, which occurred in Benin, has left many in shock, as the reasons behind her suicide remain unclear.
Late Toluige Olokoobi Babalola
In July 2020, her son, Ore, became an internet sensation when a heartwarming video of him pleading with his mother not to punish him for a wrongdoing surfaced on social media.
The video’s innocence and the young boy’s request to “calm down” deeply moved viewers, including Lagos State Governor, Jide Sanwo-Olu, who expressed a desire to meet with Ore.
Governor Sanwo-Olu had said, “I saw a video of a charming young boy online asking his mom to ‘calm down’ as she was set to punish him for a misdemeanour. I was moved by his sobriety, which reflected in his promise of ‘last chance,’ when confronted with the fact that he is a regular offender.”
Ore with Governor Sanwo-Olu during the meeting.
Ore has also gone ahead to bag ambassadorial deal with with a foundation called Combat Domestic Violence and Abuse Foundation.
The news of Babalola’s passing has saddened many, as she was a staff member at Drugfield Pharmaceuticals Limited until her demise.
She was survived by her husband and three kids, including the popular Mummy Calm down boy.
Our thoughts go out to her family during this difficult time, and may her soul rest in peace.
The governor of Jigawa state, Malam Umar Namadi on Monday approved the appointment of Hajiya Zainab Shuaibu Rabo Ringim as his Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Malam Bala Ibrahim and made available to the newsmen in Dutse.
Hajiya Zainab is a veteran Journalist who was a former staff of Radio Jigawa and correspondent of Radio Germany (Deutsche Welle), she is also a former Zonal Vice Chairman of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ)
With her appointment, Zainab became the first female to be appointed as media aid to the Jigawa state governor since the creation of the state in 1991.
The statement has also conveyed the approval for the appointment of other 116 Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants.
According to the statement, the appointment of the appointees was based on merit, competence, and personal integrity urging the appointees to be honest and just in discharging their responsibilities.
“We have a big task ahead and you all must key into His Excellency Governor Umar Namadi’s 12-point strategic agenda, so as to build the Jigawa State of our dream,” the SSG declared.
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