By Our Correspondent

The sudden collapse of a five-storey building under construction in Rivers State on Wednesday has left One person confirmed dead, two others hospitalised with injuries, while several more workers remain trapped.

The building reportedly caved in on Wednesday afternoon along Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the State, causing panic among residents and passersby as construction workers were trapped beneath the rubble.

An eyewitness who was identified as Victor told journalists that the structure collapsed with a loud noise, drawing the attention of residents who rushed to the scene and immediately commenced rescue efforts.

According to him, residents used manual tools and bare hands to pull out victims from the debris before excavators and emergency responders arrived to intensify the rescue operation.

“Some persons are still trapped inside. I think one aboki is still there. I have not also seen our brother.”

Another eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said, “I personally heard a woman’s voice shouting for help, but for the past 30 mins they have been searching but she is yet to be found. Searching is still ongoing,” she said.

Speaking at the scene, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said emergency medical teams and ambulances were swiftly deployed following reports of the collapse.

He said officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies were also on ground to rescue the victims.

Wachukwu said, “We are here at Peter Odili Road following the disturbing news that there is a building collapsed.

“As a health team, we immediately mobilised ambulances and personnel to support the rescue operation.

“So far, three persons have been rescued from the rubble. They sustained varying degrees of injuries and have been rushed to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

“We have also activated the hospital’s emergency response unit. The Head of the Emergency Department is already on ground, while NEMA, the Road Safety Corps, Civil Defence and other security agencies are all participating in the rescue efforts. All hands are on deck to ensure that anyone still trapped is rescued,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, rescue operations were ongoing, while emergency responders continued searching through the debris for possible survivors.

The latest incident occurred barely 24 hours after another three-storey building under construction collapsed along Slaughter Road, off Iwofe Road in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.

By George Mgbeleke

Worried by increasing cases of kidnapping and all forms of banditry in he country,President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted the proposed State Police Bill to the Senate.

This has set the stage for what could become one of the most significant reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture since the return to democratic rule.

The bill, titled; Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, was on Tuesday read for the first time during plenary.

It was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for accelerated consideration.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio read the President’s communication to lawmakers.

Akpabio remarked that the proposed constitutional amendment seeks to address longstanding concerns over Nigeria’s centralised policing system and establish a framework for state-controlled police services alongside the federal police.

He said President Tinubu considered the legislation as crucial to restructuring the nation’s security framework and urged the National Assembly to give it speedy consideration.

The Senate President disclosed that the upper chamber would streamline the legislative process to ensure the bill is transmitted to state Houses of Assembly as quickly as possible.

He urged state legislative houses to act promptly when they received the bill.

According to him, the proposal builds on previous work undertaken by both chambers of the National Assembly and contains safeguards for a dual policing structure comprising federal and state police services.

He said advocates of state policing believe that decentralising law enforcement would make security operations more proactive, effective and responsive to local realities.

Akpabio noted that bringing policing closer to communities, local government areas and municipalities would encourage greater citizen participation in security efforts and improve intelligence gathering.

He further argued that locally based police formations would be better positioned to identify criminal elements and prevent infiltration by external actors because residents are more familiar with individuals within their communities.

“The objective is to move from a reactive security system to one that promotes early detection and proactive response to security threats,” he said.

Following its first reading, the bill was referred to the Constitution Review Committee with a directive to report back within days.

Senators are expected to consider the committee’s recommendations collectively before taking a final decision on the legislation.

Akpabio commended members of the Constitution Review Committee for nearly two years of work on the proposal, describing it as a critical component of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security sector.

Lawmakers linked the urgency of the bill to persistent security challenges across the country, expressing optimism that the measure could strengthen efforts to combat insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.
Meanwhile, following the death of a member of the House of Representatives, Senate had to adjourn plenary to Wednesday for further consideration of the Boll to second and third readings.

By Our Correspondent

Disturbed by recent false claims that 38 school children and teachers abducted at Oriire , Ogbomoso , Oyo state have been moved to Kaduna state, the Oyo state Police Command has threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone found in disseminating false information in social media capable of causing unnecessary panic, eroding public confidence and undermining the sacrifices being made by security personnel .

The Command also dismissed as false and misleading the viral social media video claiming that the abducted school children and teachers had been transported to Kaduna State by helicopter.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the Command described the content of the viral video as entirely unfounded, unverified and lacking any credible basis.

According to the Command, the report does not meet the standard of authenticity required for information relating to such a sensitive security issue, stressing that the public should disregard the claim.

The police assured residents that intensive rescue operations are still ongoing, noting that the Command, in collaboration with other security and intelligence agencies, has significantly strengthened efforts aimed at securing the safe release of the abducted victims and reuniting them with their families.

The statement added that security operatives are also working to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the abduction.

Expressing concern over the deliberate spread of misinformation, the Command warned that false narratives and unverified reports were capable of causing unnecessary panic, eroding public confidence and undermining the sacrifices being made by security personnel engaged in the rescue mission.

The police noted that individuals or groups found to be originating or circulating malicious information intended to cast doubt on the professionalism and commitment of security institutions would be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Command therefore urged residents of Oyo State and the general public to remain calm, vigilant and supportive of ongoing security operations, while relying only on information disseminated through official channels and verified sources. Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of lives and property, the Oyo State Police Command assured that every available resource was being deployed to ensure the safe return of the abducted children and teachers.

It will be recalled that the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Omoyele Sowore, in an interview with newsmen alleged that the school children abducted in Oyo State have been moved to Kaduna State, expressing concern over their safety while reacting from Kuje Correctional Centre following his remand in a separate legal matter.

According to the AAC presidential candidate, the children are no longer believed to be in Oyo State, although he did not provide evidence to support the assertion. He also expressed fears that their current condition remains unknown.

Sowore said the uncertainty surrounding the children’s whereabouts highlights the urgency of intensified rescue efforts by security agencies. He argued that the prolonged captivity of the victims has heightened anxiety among their families and supporters, who continue to demand decisive government action.