Category: Nigerian Tribune

A coalition of labour leaders in Ondo State has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, promising to mobilise workers and other voters across the state’s 18 local government areas for the president.

The group, under the aegis of Labour for Good Governance, said its decision was based on what it described as the Tinubu administration’s achievements in workers’ welfare, infrastructure, economic reforms and security.

The endorsement was made in Akure during a programme organised by the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG), where veteran labour leaders declared that the President deserved a second term to consolidate his policies and reforms.

The President of Labour for Good Governance in Ondo State and former Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Solomon Adelegan, described the Tinubu administration as the most worker-friendly government in recent history.

Adelegan, also a former president of the Amalgamated Union, said the administration had introduced reforms that were positively affecting workers and Nigerians generally.

He singled out reforms in passport administration under the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, saying the process had become faster and more efficient.

‘Within a week or two weeks, your passport will be ready, unlike in the past, which would take months or years. The President and his cabinet have been able to bring it down to the lowest minimum,’ he said.

The labour leader also commended the Federal Government for its ongoing road and infrastructure projects, saying the scale of development under Tinubu was unprecedented.

‘When we also look at the ongoing infrastructure and road construction, no government in Nigeria has done well as President Tinubu,’ Adelegan said.

Also speaking, former NLC Chairman in Ondo State, Comrade Bosede Daramola, said the administration’s economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, had created more resources for state governments to meet their obligations.

According to her, the subsidy regime benefited only a few people, while its removal had increased the resources available to governments for payment of salaries and other commitments.

‘State governors have enough to pay salaries. Any state governor that is unable to pay salaries now should be held responsible by the labour in that state because they have enough money to pay their gratuities,’ she said.

Daramola also praised the administration’s approach to security and infrastructure development, saying the achievements recorded so far justified the labour group’s decision to support Tinubu’s re-election.

The Director-General of AMG, Olumuyiwa Asagunla, said the endorsement was not imposed on the labour leaders, insisting that they came voluntarily after assessing the performance of the Tinubu administration.

‘These people have been coming willingly. That’s just the joy of it because they have seen the good work of Asiwaju himself and then they appreciate what he’s doing at the federal level,’ Asagunla said.

He disclosed that Tunji-Ojo had been sponsoring a series of endorsement programmes involving different groups in the state, including persons living with disabilities.

Asagunla said the group was also embarking on voter education and mobilisation, noting that although Ondo had about two million registered voters, only between 400,000 and 500,000 usually turned out during elections.

He said the group would continue to sensitise residents on the importance of voting and holding elected officials accountable.

‘We’ve been going out to tell people that it’s their right to elect anybody or to get anybody that is not performing well out of office. It’s their right to re-elect or elect somebody that is doing well,’ he said.

At the event, Tinubu was presented with an award of exemplary leadership, while a similar honour was presented to Tunji-Ojo in recognition of his contributions to grassroots mobilisation in the state.

The labour leaders thereafter pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State.

The Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, has called for urgent, coordinated and evidence-based action to protect Nigeria’s forests, warning that the country cannot afford to lose the forest resources that sustain its future.

Professor Akindele made the call while delivering a keynote address on the state of Nigeria’s forests at the International Forestry Students’ Symposium (IFSS) 2026, a major global two-week gathering of forestry students under the aegis of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA). Delegates of IFSS were at Redeemer’s University from Saturday, August 22, to Tuesday, August 25.

In his address, Prof. Akindele stressed that forests should no longer be regarded merely as environmental assets but as critical infrastructure for food, water, climate security, biodiversity and livelihoods.

According to him, Nigeria still possesses a significant forest asset, with the latest Forest Resources Assessment putting the country’s forest area at 17.13 million hectares, representing 18.5 per cent of the national land area as of 2025. However, he expressed concern over the persistent decline in forest cover, describing Nigeria as a country with ‘shrinking, fragmented and unevenly governed forest assets’.

Professor Akindele, a professor of forest biometrics, noted that Nigeria’s forest area declined by 20.6 per cent between 1990 and 2025, describing the continuous downward trend as particularly dangerous. He further disclosed that Global Forest Watch estimated about 240,000 hectares of natural forest loss in Nigeria in 2025 alone, while approximately 1.1 million hectares of forest were lost between 2021 and 2025.

He identified permanent agriculture as the dominant driver of deforestation in the country, noting that forest conservation cannot succeed through forest policy alone. Rather, he said, forestry must be connected with agriculture, energy, infrastructure, mining, land tenure and local livelihoods.

‘Forest outcomes are shaped by agriculture, energy, infrastructure, mining, land tenure, and local livelihoods. So as foresters, if we are to succeed, we must be willing and ready to talk with others, other stakeholders, other land users so that we can all come to terms,’ he stated.

Addressing young forestry professionals, Professor Akindele urged them to take ownership of Nigeria’s forest future rather than inherit the country’s existing forest crisis.

‘Do not inherit the forest crisis, and this is a special appeal to you as young foresters. Rather, inherit the responsibility to solve it,’ he said.

He urged them to make three commitments: ‘Measure what is happening, defend what cannot be replaced, and restore what can be renewed. And make sure that restoration pays.’

Professor Akindele concluded by emphasising the interconnectedness of science, society, markets and environmental stewardship in securing Nigeria’s forests for generations to come.

‘Nigeria’s forest future will be built by people who can connect science, society, markets and stewardship. Let us prepare the present so that Nigeria’s forest can sustain the future. A forest future is a human choice,’ he declared.

Professor Akindele also highlighted governance as a critical dimension of Nigeria’s forest challenge. He emphasised that merely designating land as a forest reserve does not guarantee its protection, noting that effective conservation requires adequate staffing, financing, community legitimacy, ecological monitoring, enforcement and credible benefits for local communities.

He cited community participation in Cross River State as an example of how local communities could become active partners in forest protection. According to him, a model that enabled communities to benefit from government revenue generated from legally harvested timber encouraged residents to take responsibility for safeguarding the forests against illegal activities.

The Vice-Chancellor further stressed the importance of technology in improving forest management and monitoring. He noted that advances in drones, satellite imagery, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mobile applications were making forest measurement more accessible and efficient, particularly in developing countries where conventional forestry equipment can be prohibitively expensive.

However, he cautioned that data collection alone would not solve Nigeria’s forest crisis.

‘Measurement is only valuable when it leads to change in behaviour. When it leads to change in decisions. It’s not enough to just have all these statistics and display the data and say, we have this, we have this,’ he said, stressing the need for forest data to influence policy and practical decision-making.

Professor Akindele also advocated a more strategic approach to forest restoration, warning that planting trees should not be equated with restoring forests. He called for restoration programmes to consider watershed, soil, climate, biodiversity and livelihood objectives, with emphasis on planting appropriate native species and establishing effective governance structures.

He further urged stakeholders to recognise the security dimension of forest management, noting that some forest areas have increasingly become hideouts for criminal elements. He emphasised the importance of local knowledge when planning forestry interventions, particularly in areas where security conditions could compromise field operations.

Looking ahead, Professor Akindele outlined eight priority areas for Nigeria’s forest agenda, including protecting the country’s remaining intact forests, making land-use planning effective, institutionalising forest monitoring, professionalising enforcement, securing community participation, shifting restoration towards measurable outcomes, modernising the forest economy and investing in the next generation.

He equally called for a transformation in the training and career outlook of young forestry graduates, saying the sector needs professionals who can combine traditional forestry knowledge with data science, remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence, economics, climate science, restoration ecology, governance, community enterprise and communication.

The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has engaged traditional rulers across the state’s emirates to intensify community sensitisation and promote acceptance of vaccines against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

However,following concerns over the outbreak and its possible spread to other communities, the Federal Ministry of Health deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines and a special task force to coordinate rapid surveillance and response activities in Kano and Katsina states.

The move followed a recent diphtheria outbreak in communities in Rano Local Government Area and concerns over reported casualties linked to the disease.

The Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, made the call during a meeting with district heads under the Kano Emirate Council.

Adamu-Abbas highlighted the importance of vaccination and urged traditional leaders to support efforts to halt the spread of diphtheria through increased vaccine uptake and prompt reporting of suspected cases.

He said many of the diphtheria cases recorded in the state involved children who had not received routine immunisation, sought treatment from patent medicine vendors or traditional healers, or were taken late to health facilities.

The KNCDC boss appealed to traditional leaders to mobilise their communities to embrace vaccination and encourage residents to seek immediate medical attention whenever symptoms of illness are noticed.

He also urged the traditional institution to caution traditional medicine practitioners and barbers against treating suspected diphtheria cases, stressing that affected persons should be referred immediately to health facilities.

Responding, the Dankadai of Kano, Dr Bashir Dankadai, assured the KNCDC of the traditional institution’s commitment to supporting the campaign against diphtheria.

Dankadai said district heads, known as Hakimai, would engage village heads (Dagatai), who would in turn mobilise ward heads (Masu Unguwanni) to sensitise residents on vaccination and early presentation at health facilities.

He added that traditional healers, particularly barbers (Wanzamai), would be warned against interfering with diphtheria treatment or carrying out traditional surgical interventions on suspected patients.

The Dankadai reaffirmed the readiness of traditional leaders to work closely with the KNCDC to curb the spread of the disease across Kano State.

The KNCDC had earlier called for the urgent supply of nine million doses of vaccines to strengthen efforts to contain the infectious disease.

Following concerns over the outbreak and its possible spread to other communities, the Federal Ministry of Health deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines and a special task force to coordinate rapid surveillance and response activities in Kano and Katsina States.

THE current national discourse on establishing a dual policing system in Nigeria marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s efforts to confront decades of security challenges. Legislative progress toward constitutional change reflects a broad recognition that the over-centralised Nigeria Police Force has struggled to address the essentially local nature of contemporary threats, including banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and communal violence. Yet decentralisation alone will prove inadequate unless accompanied by a decisive shift from ‘policing the community’ to genuine policing through the community, and unless traditional institutions are deliberately integrated into the emerging framework. Scholarly analysis has long distinguished reactive, externally imposed policing from collaborative models that prioritise inclusion, shared intelligence, and mutual accountability. International experience supplies instructive precedents.

Japan’s koban system embeds small teams of officers in neighbourhood police boxes, where regular foot patrols, household visits, and continuous dialogue foster cultural familiarity and reciprocal trust. This sustained local presence has underpinned Japan’s low crime rates and has been adapted, with measurable gains, in Singapore and parts of Latin America. In the United Kingdom, for example, neighbourhood policing teams, rooted in Peelian principles of consent, combine visible local officers with problem-solving partnerships. Evaluations consistently record reductions in perceived disorder, enhanced legitimacy, and improved public confidence when teams are properly resourced and focused on community-identified priorities. Comparable results appear in Canadian and Dutch arrangements that emphasise decentralised accountability and multi-agency collaboration. These successful frameworks share structural features that Nigeria can productively adapt: prolonged local deployment rather than frequent rotation, formal mechanisms for citizen participation, linguistic and cultural competence, and institutional safeguards against politicisation.

Within the Nigerian context, an additional indigenous resource should be seriously considered. Traditional rulers and their institutions retain considerable moral authority and intimate knowledge of their domains. Earlier research on electoral violence demonstrated that contemporary security measures and media advocacy have frequently failed precisely because they lack the mentoring capacity and social legitimacy that traditional institutions uniquely possess. The same logic applies to broader security governance. A reconstituted state-police architecture should therefore incorporate traditional rulers as integral partners rather than peripheral advisors. They can perform a mentoring function, sensitising subjects to the costs of violence and cultivating norms of peaceful conduct, while contributing to an ‘indirect homeland security system’ that channels grassroots intelligence through established community channels. Their moral authority further enables them to withhold recognition and honours from perpetrators and sponsors of insecurity and other forms of violence in their domains and to call such actors publicly to order. Community Policing Forums at local-government level should therefore formally include traditional leaders alongside women’s groups, youth organisations, and religious figures, with a view to institutionalising the partnership that successful models elsewhere have found workable and indispensable.

Nigeria’s proposed dual policing system is not merely pragmatic; it is consistent with the logic of federalism. Federalism requires that powers and responsibilities be distributed among federating entities according to the scale at which problems arise and solutions can most effectively be delivered. Security challenges in Nigeria are predominantly local in origin and manifestation. Assigning primary responsibility for ordinary policing to the states, while embedding community and traditional institutions within that structure, aligns functional authority with territorial and cultural proximity. It completes the federal bargain by ensuring that the sphere closest to the citizen, both governmental and traditional, is empowered to protect life and property, subject to national standards and coordination on matters that genuinely transcend state boundaries.

In conclusion, the creation of a dual policing system in Nigeria offers a historic opportunity to correct the structural disconnection that has long undermined the country’s security architecture. This opportunity requires more than just constitutional devolution. It demands the embedding of community-oriented principles drawn from proven international practice and the deliberate harnessing of traditional institutions’ residual legitimacy and local knowledge. Only through such a synthesis can the security architecture being proposed acquire the link of trust, effectiveness, and sustainability.

Dr Braimah is Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Thursday presented cheques totalling ?2,317,177,094.00 to 2,971 beneficiaries and next-of-kin of deceased police officers under the Group Life Assurance, Group Personal Accident and IGP Family Welfare Schemes.

The beneficiaries comprise families of police personnel who died in service and were covered under the 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2024/2025 insurance policy years.

The payments also included outstanding balances recovered from insurance companies following earlier partial settlements.

Speaking at the solemn presentation ceremony held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the IGP described the exercise as more than the disbursement of financial benefits, noting that it represented the institutional responsibility owed to families of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Nigeria.

He stressed that while no financial benefit could replace a lost loved one, the payments provided practical support and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to their families.

The IGP noted that police personnel continue to operate in a highly challenging security environment, with officers making significant sacrifices in the line of duty across the country.

He assured the families of fallen officers that the Nigeria Police Force remained committed to recognising their sacrifices and exploring legitimate avenues of support for their welfare and that of their dependants.

While reaffirming welfare as a cardinal priority of his administration, IGP Disu stated that the Force would continue to pursue initiatives aimed at improving personnel welfare, working conditions, healthcare, accommodation and other legitimate benefits due to serving personnel and their families.

He further directed the Force Insurance Unit to intensify sensitisation across commands and formations to ensure that officers and their families were adequately informed about their insurance benefits and the processes for accessing them.

The IGP also commended the Force’s insurance partners for their cooperation and urged them to ensure prompt settlement of legitimate claims, noting that timely insurance payments could serve as a vital lifeline to families that had lost their breadwinners.

In her remarks, the Force Insurance Officer, ACP Lydia Ameh, appreciated the IGP for his support and leadership in prioritising the resolution of outstanding insurance claims and improving access to benefits for police personnel and their families.

She noted that the progress recorded by the Force Insurance Unit in recovering pending entitlements and strengthening claims administration reflected the importance attached to ensuring that eligible beneficiaries received their legitimate benefits.

In addition, she reaffirmed the Unit’s commitment to improving the efficiency of the insurance process, intensifying awareness among personnel and safeguarding the interests of police families.

Justice Friday Ogazi of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos will on September 9, 2026 deliver ruling on the bail application filed by a Nigerian returnee from Brazil, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu.

It would be recalled that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), had arraigned Ikechukwu for allegedly smuggling 6.1 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.

Ikechukwu was dragged before the court on a one-count charge bordering on unlawful importation of narcotics.

Addressing the court, the counsel for the prosecution, Abu Ibrahim, said the defendant was intercepted on June 11, 2026, at Gate 2 of the Arrival Hall, Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Ibrahim further informed the judge that the defendant was arrested during inward clearance of passengers aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The NDLEA equally hinted to the court that the 6.1kg of cocaine was concealed by soaking and immersing the illicit substance in towels and other clothing items to evade detection.

Ibrahim insisted that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

But Ikechukwu pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution to ask the court for a trial date and an order remanding the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the defendant, Chief Benson Ndakara, informed Justice Ogazi that he had filed a bail application for his client which had already been served on the prosecution.

But the court could not entertain the bail application due to its tight schedule.

Consequently, Justice Ogazi ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, facility till September 9, 2026, when his bail application will be heard.

The charge reads: ‘That you Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, Male, Adult, Nigerian on or about the 11th June, 2026 at Gate 2 of the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopia Airline flight from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Lagos without lawful authority imported 6.1 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug immersed/soaked in Towels and other clothing and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.’

Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno, has revealed that he once made at least N10 million monthly from his akara and bread business before venturing into politics.

Eno made the disclosure during the state’s monthly covenant prayer service on Tuesday, a video of which began trending on Wednesday.

The governor said he started the business by selling akara and bread, which he packaged as ‘Akara Burger’, before expanding into a coffee shop.

‘We still have that shop there. I started selling Akara and bread. Back then, I was doing Akara Burger. We open the bread and put it inside for you. People going to Exxon Mobil will buy it in the morning and take coffee.

‘We started coffee shop and then they will take it. Every month, that Akara business used to give me nothing less than ?10 million in a month.’

Eno said workers heading to ExxonMobil in the mornings were among the regular customers who patronised the business.

He said the experience taught him valuable lessons about entrepreneurship and the importance of building successful businesses from small beginnings.

The governor’s comment comes months after the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, sparked reactions when she encouraged Nigerians to explore small businesses such as akara and kuli-kuli as part of efforts to improve their livelihoods.

Speaking after a Renewed Hope Initiative meeting with wives of state governors in Abuja in June, the First Lady said such businesses could be started with relatively little capital.

‘We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant.’

Her comments attracted criticism on social media, with some Nigerians accusing her of being out of touch with the economic realities facing citizens.

She later defended the initiative, saying the empowerment programme was not limited to akara sellers but also covered tomato sellers, roasted plantain sellers, pepper and vegetable traders.

The First Lady also announced a N100 million intervention for 2,000 petty traders in Jigawa State, with each beneficiary receiving N50,000 to recapitalise their businesses.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently joined the conversation by jokingly referring to his wife as ‘Iya Alakara’ during a Presidential Press Corps Dinner.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that could offer a surprisingly simple way to target microbes associated with head and neck cancers.

Tests using the specially engineered gum on oral samples from patients found that it reduced HPV levels by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer in laboratory tests.

The treatment delivers targeted biological agents directly in the mouth, potentially tackling cancer-associated viruses and bacteria without destroying the microbial communities that help keep the mouth healthy.

Maintaining beneficial bacteria in the mouth is increasingly recognised as important to both oral and overall health. Some cancer treatments can disrupt this microbial balance.

The research, led by Henry Daniell of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, was published in Scientific Reports. The researchers said the findings could eventually support the development of a more accessible treatment that works alongside existing cancer therapies.

However, the experiments were conducted using oral samples from patients rather than testing whether the gum can prevent or treat cancer in people. Clinical trials will be needed to establish its safety and effectiveness.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a common cancer affecting tissues in the mouth and throat. The disease can be aggressive, particularly when diagnosed at a later stage, and treatment remains challenging for many patients.

The new research builds on earlier work involving chewing gum made from lablab beans, sometimes referred to as bean gum. The gum contains FRIL, a naturally occurring antiviral protein.

Researchers tested the gum against three microbes associated with head and neck cancer: HPV, the virus responsible for many oropharyngeal cancers, and the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum).

HPV levels fell by 93% in saliva samples and by 80% in oral-rinse samples after exposure to the gum extract.

The researchers then modified the gum by adding protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide capable of killing harmful bacteria. A single dose reduced levels of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum to almost undetectable levels in the tests.

Daniell said the increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers, together with the association between P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum infections and poorer outcomes in some oral cancer patients, highlights the need for new approaches.

According to the researchers, the technology could eventually serve as an additional treatment alongside existing cancer therapies or as a preventive approach aimed at reducing infection or transmission among people at risk.

Its delivery method could also make the treatment relatively simple and accessible if it eventually proves safe and effective in clinical trials.

The Osun State Election Violence Victims Relief Committee has begun the verification of more than 300 claims filed by residents who alleged that they suffered various forms of loss during violence associated with the August 15 governorship election.

The exercise, which commenced on Thursday at the State House of Assembly, is aimed at identifying genuine victims eligible to benefit from the N500 million relief fund established by the state government.

The 10-member committee, chaired by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, was constituted by Governor Ademola Adeleke following his victory in the election to examine claims arising from election-related violence and supervise the disbursement of relief to qualified victims.

At the verification session, claimants were invited to present their accounts before the committee, alongside documents and other evidence capable of establishing the circumstances and extent of their alleged losses.

Egbedun said the committee would ensure that the exercise was conducted with fairness and transparency, stressing that the government’s intervention must ultimately reach people who genuinely suffered as a result of the violence.

He urged applicants to provide truthful information and relevant supporting documents, assuring them that each claim would be considered on its merits.

‘On behalf of the committee, I assure all genuine victims that their cases will receive the attention they deserve.

‘We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the relief process is credible, just and meaningful,’ he said.

One of the cases presented before the committee was that of Ajayi Tolulope, whose husband, Ajayi Rogba, was allegedly killed in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area, ahead of the election.

In an emotional testimony, Tolulope alleged that her husband was attacked by armed men who arrived in a Sienna vehicle.

‘We saw a Sienna with two occupants, each holding two guns. They fired four shots,’ she told the committee.

She said her husband was wearing an Accord Party cap when he was killed, adding that his death had created serious hardship for the family.

According to her, Rogba, a practising herbalist, was survived by his parents, while five children were being catered for by the family, including two of her children, one child of his second wife and two of his younger siblings.

Tolulope further alleged that her husband had been repeatedly trailed after he declined an invitation to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The committee is expected to continue its verification and cross-examination of claimants before determining those whose applications meet the criteria for payment from the N500 million relief fund.

Two young women from the same household have died after a residential building collapsed in the Goron Dutse community of Kano at about 2:00 am.

The incident occurred behind the WRECA area of Goron Dutse, throwing residents and members of the victims’ family into grief.

One of the victims was reportedly a 20-year-old woman who was said to be preparing for her forthcoming wedding, according to residents.

Eyewitnesses said the sudden collapse woke residents from sleep, prompting neighbours to rush to the scene and attempt to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble.

The residents reportedly used their bare hands and simple tools to remove the debris in a frantic effort to save the victims.

However, the rescue operation ended in tragedy when the two women were eventually recovered dead.

Neighbours described one of the victims as gentle and cheerful, saying she had been looking forward to her wedding.

‘We did everything we could to rescue them, but it was too late. The entire neighbourhood is in shock,’ a resident who participated in the rescue operation told our correspondent.

By Thursday morning, mourners had gathered at the victims’ family home, where grief, tears and prayers replaced preparations for what was expected to be a period of celebration.

The cause of the building collapse was not immediately known at the time of filing this report.

There was also no official statement from the Kano State Fire Service, the police, or any other relevant authority on the incident or the circumstances surrounding the collapse.