On Thursday, the Lagos State government arraigned Chrisland School, Opebi, its principal, vice principal, and two employees over the death of one of the school’s pupils, 12-year-old Whitney Adeniran. This case has sparked outrage across Nigeria, and people are eagerly waiting to see justice served.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. They include Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Mrs. Belinda Amao, Nwatu Ugochi Victoria, and Chrisland School Limited. According to the charges filed by the state, the defendants allegedly killed Miss Adeniran on February 9, 2023, at about 1 pm, in Agege Sports Stadium, Agege, Lagos, by acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered her life.

The defendants were arraigned on two count charges bordering on involuntary manslaughter, reckless and negligent acts preferred against them by the state. The state Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, informed the court that the state had filed two count charges against the defendants, urging the court to take their plea. After the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Subsequently, the Attorney General informed the court that the state has seventeen witnesses and as such will be praying for a date to open trial. The oral application was not opposed by all the defendants’ counsel.

Justice Oyindamola Ogala, who presided over the matter, thereafter fixed May 25, June 1, 8, and 15 for the commencement of trial. While in the dock, the school’s principal, Mrs. Belinda Amao, broke down in tears as the court and counsel tried to agree on a date for the commencement of the trial.

This case has sent shockwaves through Nigeria, with many questioning the safety and wellbeing of children in schools across the country. The death of Whitney Adeniran has highlighted the need for stricter regulations and oversight in schools to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

The Lagos State government has taken a decisive step in bringing the defendants to trial and ensuring that justice is served for Whitney Adeniran and her family. It is hoped that this case will serve as a wake-up call for schools across Nigeria to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of their students and take all necessary measures to prevent accidents and tragedies from occurring.

In a distressing incident, suspected herdsmen allegedly invaded a public secondary school in Oyo State on Thursday morning, causing injuries to students and teachers. According to reports, the Community Grammar School, Alaropo Nla in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state was attacked by over twenty herdsmen who reportedly invaded the school with their cattle, causing harm to several students and teachers.

The eyewitnesses revealed that the students had just completed their morning devotion and were preparing to continue their second-term examination when the herdsmen invaded the school farm with their cows grazing carelessly on crops. Despite the efforts made by the students and teachers to drive away the herdsmen, they were met with fierce resistance, leading to injuries to several students and teachers.

Some of the students and their teachers, including Mr Paul Olabode, were reportedly inflicted with sword and machete cuts, while many others suffered broken legs and hands. The incident has been reported to the police, according to the school principal, Mrs Grace Alamu, who confirmed the attack in a telephone conversation with Vanguard.

“I am on my way to the school. Policemen are coming to the school this morning,” she said.

However, efforts to contact the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Adewale Osifeso, to confirm the invasion, proved abortive, as several calls placed to him were not answered at the time of filing this report.

This attack on a public secondary school is yet another addition to the increasing number of attacks and violence perpetrated by suspected herdsmen in the country. The situation is a worrisome trend that is causing unrest and anxiety among Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, where many communities have suffered similar attacks.

In conclusion, the authorities must take swift and decisive action to investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. It is crucial to ensure that the safety and security of citizens, especially schoolchildren and teachers, are protected from such attacks. The Nigerian government must take proactive measures to address the growing insecurity in the country and provide adequate protection for all its citizens.

Traders at the Olowu spare parts market in Lagos are counting their losses after a fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday morning. The inferno ravaged several shops in the market, destroying goods worth millions of naira. According to reports, some of the shops contained air-conditioners, vehicle parts, and motorcycles, among other items.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but eyewitnesses say it started in one of the shops and quickly spread to other parts of the market. Traders frantically tried to salvage their goods as the flames spread, but many were unable to save anything.

This latest fire incident is a blow to traders in the Olowu market, who are still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have struggled to make ends meet in the wake of the economic downturn, and the loss of their goods in the fire is yet another setback.

The Lagos State Fire Service and security operatives were quick to respond to the incident, with firefighters working tirelessly to put out the flames. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and authorities are urging traders to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Sadly, this is not the first time that a fire has destroyed a market in Lagos. Just three weeks ago, the Akere Spare Parts Market on Kirikiri Road in Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle was also ravaged by fire, leaving many traders without a means of livelihood. The recurrence of these incidents underscores the need for better fire prevention and management strategies in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.

Our thoughts are with the traders affected by the fire at the Olowu spare parts market, and we urge the authorities to take swift action to support those who have lost their livelihoods. We also call on traders to prioritize safety measures in their shops and markets, to prevent the occurrence of such tragedies in the future.

Sad news has emerged from Nollywood, as reports indicate that popular actor, Yul Edochie, has lost his first son, Kambilichukwu Edochie. The news has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and has been met with an outpouring of grief and condolences from fans and colleagues alike.

According to sources close to the family, Kambilichukwu fell unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. Despite the best efforts of doctors to resuscitate him, he sadly passed away. The exact cause of his death is not yet known, but it is believed that he may have suffered a seizure while playing football with his friends.

Kambilichukwu’s death comes just two months after Yul and his first wife, May, celebrated their son’s 16th birthday. At the time, Yul took to Instagram to share his joy and pride in his son, writing, “Many more great years I wish you with loads of accomplishments and greatness. May God be with you always. Daddy loves you.”

Yul Edochie is the youngest child of veteran actor, Pete Edochie, and followed in his father’s footsteps to become an actor. He married his wife, Mary, at the age of 22, after they had been dating for six years. He made his debut in the movie industry just a year after his marriage and quickly established himself as a talented and popular actor.

The loss of a child is a devastating experience for any parent, and our hearts go out to Yul Edochie and his family at this difficult time. Kambilichukwu’s passing is a tragic reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment with our loved ones. We join the many fans and colleagues of Yul Edochie in offering our deepest condolences and support during this time of grief.