Author: Editor

In Qur’anic schools across Bauchi, Almajiri children suffer abuse and exploitation at the hands of their teachers, yet the government fails to provide any protection despite the existence of state laws, WikkiTimes’ investigation reveals. SEPARATED by a distance of approximately 110 kilometers, three individuals—Musa Abdullahi (16), Usman Musa (15), and Abubakar Garin-Dawa (17)—find themselves bound by a shared destiny marked by suffering and sorrow. These young Almajiri children have become unwilling victims of child labour within the Tsangaya school overseen by Alarama Idi Yusha’u. The Tsangaya schools are the open spaces where children are made to learn and recite the Qur’an. Musa…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka A mentally deranged man was yesterday butchered to death by hoodlums suspected to be cultists terrorising Awka, the capital of Anambra State. Reports have it that the victim was gruesomely murdered after the cultists apprehended him at his usual place at Dike Park along the popular Zik’s Avenue, Awka. It was learned that the cultists made several efforts to eliminate the mentally ill man but all to no avail as bullets, and other weapons failed to penetrate him. “The cultists expended many bullets on him, but the bullets couldn’t penetrate him. “They resorted to stabbing him, but…

Ugo Nosiri, Owerri Imo State Government says it has commenced the building of primary schools in each of the 305 electoral wards in the state. Governor, Hope Uzodimma disclosed this at the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, AIFCE, Owerri. Governor Uzodimma said his administration had also begun the construction of laboratories and libraries in all the secondary schools in the state. He said the project was to consolidate his government’s efforts to enhance education standards in the state. Governor Uzodimma while reiterating his administration’s commitment in encouraging youths in the state to achieve their academic…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Last minute efforts by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, to avert the two-day warning strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, may have failed as the national leadership of NLC, stayed away from the parley. Only the leadership of the Trade Union Congress, led by its President, Festus Osifo, showed up for the reconciliatory meeting scheduled for 3 p.m Monday but which dragged to 5:32 p.m. Recall that NLC, had in a communique jointly signed by its national President, Joe Ajaero; and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said it decided to embark on a two-day warning strike…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, (tribunal) sitting in Abuja, will on Wednesday, deliver judgment on petitions by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar; and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, seeking to nullify President Bola Tinubu’s election. This was contained in a press statement issued Monday by the Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal, Umar Bangari. According to the statement, the court proceedings will be televised live on interested national television stations. The statement obtained by Ikengaonline read in part: “The Court of Appeal wishes to inform the General Public that judgment…

By Hassan Gimba In the past three years, at least eight African countries have witnessed military coup d’états. This is coming when it was thought that Africa’s democracy had come of age when we were beginning to think that coups had gone for good, consigned to an era in the past when African governments were led by the military. Coincidentally, all but one of the eight countries were colonised by France. Some of the countries are Mali, Chad, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and now Gabon. The first coup in Mali was in August 2020, when President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was…

By Owei Lakemfa As the new Soun of Ogbomosho, Prince Afolabi Ghandhi Olaoye, emerged on Saturday, September 2, a major issue in the selection process caught my attention. The kingmakers extracted a pledge from the 23 claimants to the stool that whoever is crowned would embrace the three main religions in the ancient kingdom: the Traditional, Christianity and Islam. This pledge, a reflection of the time-tested tradition of the Yorubas who tolerate all religions, reminds me of my growing up in Lagos. Lagos accommodated all religions and it was not uncommon to find adherents of the three main religions in a…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka It was a tragic as three persons have been confirmed dead after a storey-building collapsed in Egbu Umuenem, Otolo Nnewi, Nnewi North LGA of Anambra State. The victims include a builder identified as Chizoba Aniefuna and his two sons who were said to be working with him. The structure was reportedly under construction when it collapsed. It was gathered that a relative of the builder, was trapped in the building but was later rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital. When newsmen arrived the scene, manual labourers were seen on rescue mission as the excavator brought to…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Founder and first Visitor of former Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH) now Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Sen. (Chief) Jim Nwobodo, has commended the management of the institution for steering the ship of the university back to excellence in tune with his vision for the institution. Nwobodo made the commendation when the Management team and key officers of the university led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, paid courtesy call on him at his country home, Amechi, in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The elder statesman recalled that his…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Majority Leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon.  Ikoro Kingsley, has sued for peace among communities in his Afikpo North West constituency. He stated this during the 2023 New Yam Festival ceremony held by communities in his constituency. This is as he flagged off a bi-annual empowerment programme for businesses and farmers in his constituency with cash and farm inputs distribution worth millions of naira. The event held at the weekend in Ibii/Oziza, Akpoha and Amasiri communities with large turnouts of people. Akpoha and Amasiri communities few months ago were enmeshed in boundary disputes with government…