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Fire Destroys Goods Worth Millions at Bayelsa Jetty
A fire outbreak at the Swali Ultra Modern Market jetty in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday morning destroyed goods worth millions of naira, sparking panic and losses for traders and transporters.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident involved a wooden cargo vessel, MV King George, which was fully loaded with food supplies and goods set for Akassa in the Brass Local Government Area. According to eyewitness accounts, the fire started before the boat could depart, but no casualties were recorded.
Eyewitnesses said passengers and crew on board the vessel narrowly escaped the flames. Some leapt into the water to avoid being consumed by the rapidly spreading fire.
While one trader attributed the fire to a discarded cigarette, the state chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Ipigansi Ogoniba, claimed that a faulty water pump ignited the blaze. The fire quickly spread to the engine compartment, engulfing the boat.
Essential goods such as bags of garri, rice, and beans were among the items lost to the fire. On arrival, PUNCH Metro saw residents and market traders attempting to salvage partially burnt or water-soaked items from the river.
A small hand-pulled boat that got too close to the burning wreck also caught fire, though quick action with river water helped extinguish it before it spread further.
According to Ogoniba, firefighters from the Bayelsa State Fire Service arrived late, rendering their efforts ineffective. “They came about an hour late, long after the fire had done its damage,” he told PUNCH Metro. He confirmed that the burnt vessel was the smaller of two owned by a local operator known as King George, and it had been leased to another man named Emmanuel.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about fire safety, emergency response, and regulatory oversight at jetties and waterfront markets in the state.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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