Two persons suspected to be students of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, the Imo State capital, have drowned in Otammiri River in Owerri.

The incident, according to a source, occurred last Saturday.

The source said one of the deceased, Chukwudi Okwuchukwu, was a year one National Diploma Computer Science student and Igwilo, a friend of another student, who joined the swimming expedition.

However, the school authorities have denied the allegation, saying they were not aware of the incident.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said four male friends came to swim in the Otammiri River and snap pictures.

According to the source, a local warned the young men not to swim, saying it was getting dark, but they refused and continued swimming.

Further, he said the swimmers who were busy being snapped pictures by their friends swam to the deep side and drowned in the process.

The school’s public relations officer, Dr Ike Ibe, said the school was unaware of the incident.

He said, “No, the school management is not aware of such an incident.”

When contacted, the SUG president of polytechnic, Destiny Nwosu, confirmed that two people drowned in the river but maintained that they had yet to be identified as students of the school.

Nwosu said, “I heard that two people drowned at the Otammiri River, but we have yet to confirm that they are students of our school. I can’t confirm whether they were Nekede Polytechnic students or from the other schools in the state, and if they were even students anywhere else.”

The president of the National Association of Imo State Students (NAISS), Nekede Polytechnic chapter, Daniel Promise, said he saw the video on social media but maintained that they had not been identified as students of Nekede Polytechnic.

He said, “Up till now, no one has confirmed the victim to be their coursemate or anything like that. I can’t confirm that they were our fellow students,” Promise said.

Meanwhile, the two corpses have been deposited at a morgue.

-Leadership

Plateau State commissioner for Health, Dr Nicolas Ba’amlong, has declared that glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness after cataract in Nigeria.

He, therefore,  called for a united  push for regular eye checks, early diagnosis and affordable treatment.

The commissioner said Nigeria Blindness and Vision Impairment Survey, Prevalence of Glaucoma affects five percent of the population, adding that it accounts for 16.7 percent of blindness cases, while 5.6 percent of the affected individuals knew they had the disease and one in five persons  were already blind at diagnosis.

He maintained that the 2023 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey in Plateau State reported prevalence of blindness to be 2.7 percent which is significantly higher than the national average of 0.7 percent stressing that glaucoma accounted for 17 percent of such blindness.

The theme for this year ” Uniting for Glaucoma Free World” emphasised the power of collective action in tackling one of the leading causes of irreversible  blindness. It conveys both urgency and hope highlighting that while glaucoma cannot be cured, blindness from it can often be prevented  through awareness, early detection and treatment.

Dr. Ba’amlong further explained that “Glaucoma Week reminds us that protecting visions is a shared responsibility because when we unite to promote awareness, early testing and accessible treatment, we move closer to the future where no one loses his sight to glaucoma.”

-Leadership

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State have dislodged several drug joints and arrested 56 suspects during a coordinated three-day raid.

The operation, conducted under the command’s ongoing “Operation Ramadan Mubarak,” targeted notorious drug hotspots within the Kano metropolis and surrounding communities.

According to him, NDLEA operatives raided several locations including Kofar Mata, Fagge, Kasuwar Rimi, Medile, Badawa and Sabon Gari, where drug dealers were suspected to have established distribution centres.

Maigatari explained that the enforcement action formed part of a broader strategy by the command to disrupt the supply chain of illegal drugs and restore safety in communities affected by drug-related activities.

The NDLEA spokesperson described the seizures as a major blow to local drug trafficking networks, noting that the agency would sustain its crackdown on illicit drug activities in the state.

He said the suspect has since been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a drug-free society in line with the agenda of NDLEA chairman and chief executive officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa.

It also urged members of the public to provide credible information on individuals and locations involved in illicit drug activities to support ongoing enforcement efforts.

-Leadership