News
U.S.-based group organises trauma healing session for Plateau attack victims
The Plateau Association in the United States of America (PSA-USA) on Sunday organised a psychosocial and trauma healing session for victims and survivors of recent terror attacks in Plateau State.
Recall that gunmen on March 29 attacked the Angwan Rukuba community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The gunmen killed some persons and injured many others.
Speaking, the President of PSA-USA, Dr Barth Shepkong, said that the event was organised in collaboration with the Saphira Global Centre for Social Development.
He said the gesture aimed at providing a safe space for the victims to ventilate their innermost feelings.
He stated that victims of attacks were often left with trauma, hence the need for psychosocial support to enable them put the past behind them and move on.
He added, “One of the things that we have noticed as an association, especially when there’s a crisis on the Plateau, is that the aspect of the psychosocial or the emotional and psychological support is usually neglected. So, that is why we are here today to make sure that the victims of angwan rukuba get a platform to speak out.
“We are here to encourage them and at the same time give them a platform to let everything out, because they carry a lot of emotions. So basically, it’s a safe space for them, particularly for the women and children that are affected to learn more how to cope psychologically and emotionally.”
Mr Shepkong, who decried the rising killings in the state, called on the government at all levels and the security agencies to tackle the menace.
He particularly said that insecurity remained a major set back towards the development of Plateau State and Nigeria in general.
The president, however, called on residents of the state to live in peace with one another, eschew violence and be tolerant at all times.
On her part, the Executive Director of Saphira Global Centre for Social Development, Yil Fomwul-Gonsum, said that 66 survivors, including those who lost their loved ones benefitted from the initiative.
Mrs Fomwul-Gonsum said that the beneficiaries were carefully selected, adding that the move basically aimed at providing psychosocial support that would enable the victims to forge ahead.
She noted that moving forward, her organisation would make arrangements for further intervention to support the victims.
(NAN)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
The cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday 9th April 2026 by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport while two cargo agents involved in the export bid: Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39, were swiftly arrested. Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday 8th April intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms and concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents: Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday 13th April.
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on Monday 13th April intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa state. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday 16th April when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River state, where 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of same substance recovered.
Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday 14th April at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of same psychoactive substance, while three suspects: Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45, were arrested, with the duo of Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds. Two suspects: Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta state on Friday 17th April.
In Lagos, two suspects: Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu were arrested on Wednesday 15th April at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana. Same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered.
With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger state;
Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano, and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.
The post NDLEA intercepts Cocaine, Loud in food flasks, Snacks, Arrests Fashion Designer, Others appeared first on Business Today NG.
-
News4 days agoDSS Re-Arraigns Malami, Son Over Alleged Terrorism Charges
-
Events2 days ago
Plateau community women stage naked protest over removal of traditional ruler by Gov Mutfwang
-
News2 days ago
Plateau Mine Gas Tragedy: FG Inaugurates 18-member Probe Panel
-
News3 days ago
New leaders, new fund: Sequoia has raised $7B to expand its AI bets
