By Abigail David

Eight people were killed and five others injured after armed assailants attacked the Otukpo Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State shortly after a burial ceremony, the Benue State Police Command has said.

Police spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet said in a statement on Monday that the attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday following the burial of Adaje Okoh, an octogenarian.

According to the police, the attackers opened fire on residents, killing eight people and injuring five others. Some thatched houses and a motorcycle were also set ablaze during the incident.

Benue State Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu led tactical teams to the community after receiving reports of the attack. The command said security personnel restored calm, while the injured were taken to a hospital in Otukpo for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo.

The police said an investigation is underway and assured residents that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice. Additional security personnel have also been deployed to the affected community and other vulnerable areas following a protest by some youths.

Meanwhile, the Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has publicly distanced its members from the attack.

By Abigail David

Security operatives at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, on Wednesday night repelled another attack by suspected gunmen, killing one of the assailants during a gun battle.

The attack occurred at about 11 p.m. when the armed men allegedly attempted to breach the institute’s security perimeter but were met with resistance from security personnel.

In a statement issued on Thursday, NIPSS Head of Public Affairs, Osime Samuel, said the attackers were forced to retreat following a swift and coordinated response by security operatives.

According to the institute, one of the suspected attackers was killed during the exchange of fire, while others fled with varying degrees of injuries.

NIPSS said there was no breach of its security perimeter and confirmed that all participants, staff, residents and facilities remained safe.

The institute added that security agencies had intensified efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects while strengthening surveillance and other proactive security measures within and around the facility.

NIPSS reassured participants, staff, their families and the public that the protection of lives and property remains its top priority and urged residents to disregard misinformation capable of causing unnecessary panic.

The latest incident comes less than two weeks after suspected gunmen attacked the institute and nearby communities, leaving three people, including security personnel, dead and prompting enhanced security around the country’s premier policy and leadership training institution.

By Abigail David

Hours of heavy rainfall on Tuesday caused widespread flooding across several parts of Lagos State, submerging homes and roads, disrupting movement and triggering power outages after critical electricity infrastructure was affected.

Communities including FESTAC, Gbagada, Ikeja, Ajah, Victoria Island, Lekki, Mushin, Mafoluku, Evans, Olushi, Anikantamo and Adeniji Adele experienced varying degrees of flooding, with residents wading through waterlogged streets and motorists stranded on submerged roads.

In Ikeja, floodwaters entered homes and shops, forcing some residents to temporarily relocate. Residents blamed the situation on blocked drainage channels, poor road design and indiscriminate construction that obstructs waterways.

The downpour also affected electricity supply after floodwaters damaged facilities at the Oworo 132/33kV Transmission Station. Ikeja Electric said flooding impacted two power transformers and several 33kV feeders serving areas including Ladilak, Bariga, Oworo, Pedro, Alapere, Agboyi, Araba and Gbagada. The utility said it is working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore power as soon as repairs are completed.

The flooding extended to neighbouring Ogun State, where residents of Gloryland Estate in Ibafo appealed for urgent government intervention, citing damaged homes, disrupted movement and recurring flood incidents linked to blocked drainage channels.

Meanwhile, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the dredging of 28 additional primary drainage channels to strengthen flood control across Lagos.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the rainfall as an extreme weather event that overwhelmed existing drainage infrastructure, resulting in temporary flooding in several communities.

He said Lagos’ coastal geography naturally slows the discharge of stormwater during high tide, making temporary flooding more likely after exceptionally heavy rainfall. Wahab urged residents to stop dumping refuse in drainage channels, avoid illegal reclamation of wetlands and refrain from building on drainage alignments, while advising motorists to stay off flooded roads and comply with safety advisories.