A human rights lawyer, Dr. Olubunmi Odeniyi has petitioned major telecom service provider, Airtel Networks Limited over the inferno which engulfed its base station at Ikotun, Lagos killing one Chidi Emmanuel while inflicting “severe life-changing burns” on four others.

In a letter dated 2nd April, 2024, Odeniyi stated that the lives of the victims who were passers-by and residents of the area “are presently at grave risk and danger.”

Noting that the telecoms giant has not offered any assistance to the victims since the incident on March 19, Odeniyi demanded “that Airtel Networks Limited must immediately fly all our Four (4) Clients together with an assistant each to the UK or the USA to the best burns center available abroad and pay all medical and incidental fees.”

Titled “EGREGIOUS NEGLIGENCE OF YOUR COMPANY CAUSING FIRE AND EXPLOSION AND RESULTING IN SEVERE LIFE-CHANGING BURNS TO FOUR (4) VICTIMS ON TUESDAY, 19 MARCH, 2024: DEMAND FOR URGENT MEDICAL REMEDIATION AND COMPENSATION TO FOUR (4) VICTIMS,” the letter was addressed to the Managing Director of Airtel Networks Limited and received by the company on 3rd April, 2024.

Aside from Emmanuel who was killed by the explosion, Feranmi Nureni Oluwatoba, Saheed Adeleke, Franklin Obade and Saheed Raji were badly burnt during the incident.

The human rights activist stated that the telecoms giant abandoned the victims without any medical care, saying: “Our instruction is that your agents and/or privies, a welder and a diesel supplier negligently executed the tasks given to them by you and in the process, a huge fire explosion ensued at and around the BTS which severely burnt our said Clients who are innocent passers-by and residents of the community to the point where their lives are presently at grave risk and danger.

“This unfortunate incident has caused great discomforts, apprehension, pain, suffering and distress, not only to the victims but to their families who have little or no means to attend to their sudden but urgent medical treatments.

“Our further instruction from our Clients is that your company, despite being aware of the incident through your guard on duty at the BTS, have not showed up at the scene nor interacted with our Clients to the end of bringing succour to their medical and psychological distresses.

“The little financial efforts our Clients could muster have not engendered the vital and urgent responses that the situation warrants from you.”

The senior lawyer demanded that if the telecoms company was not willing to fly the victims abroad for medical care, it should avail them with the “cost of medical assistance of their choice and discretion abroad including skin-grafting and plastic surgery” as well as compensation for loss or reduction of life prospects.

Though the telecoms service provider was asked to “enter into an immediate commitment or undertaking to one of the pathways offered above in items 1 and 2 WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS of the date this letter,” it has shunned all entreaties to provide medical assistance to the victims.

It was gathered that a last-ditch effort by the human rights activist to meet with the company’s legal team or the chief executive officer in a desperate bid to obtain urgent medical care for the victims was rebuffed by the company.

The senior lawyer however warned the telecoms giant to “TAKE NOTICE that your BTS at the said location is a potential crime scene for investigation of criminal negligence resulting in the death of one MR. CHIDI EMMANUEL who died from his severe burns at Gbagada General Hospital in addition to the grievous wounds inflicted on our Clients. Any continued operation of the BTS may also unnecessarily inflame passions of the surrounding community and may lead to a breach of the peace.”

The inferno and explosion occurred at the AIRTEL base transceiver station (BTS Lag 767) at Abaranje, Ikotun, Lagos State.

Enugu State Police Command has arrested a lecturer of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Mfonobong Udoudom, for sexually assaulting a married female student in his office.

Mfonobong Udoudom, a lecturer in the School of General Studies at UNN, was taken into custody by the police on Monday and has remained detained since then.

Reports indicate that the lecturer had coerced the female student into a sexual relationship, threatening that she would fail his course unless she complied with his demands.

Trouble began when the students completed their examinations for the lecturer’s course, and he warned some female students that they would fail if they ‘failed to see him’.

The affected female student informed her husband, who lodged a complaint with the university authorities. Subsequently, the university advised the student to cooperate with their investigation.

A video circulating on social media showed the lecturer completely naked until he was later allowed to wear inner boxers after he was caught red-handed.

A voice in the viral video said: “We have been following this case from day one. As you can see, we have all the chats, voice notes, videos and everything.”

Many people who claimed to have been taught by the lecturer shared their experiences, expressing shock and disappointment at his alleged actions.

Commenting on the video, someone said the lecturer taught him Peace and Conflict, a course under General Studies, during his time at UNN.

He said: “That is my lecturer in UNN, he taught us Peace and Conflict under GS in my time. We called him or rather, he called himself ‘The Short Man.’ He was very strict with us in class. It’s unfortunate that he was involved in this.”

Another person said: “Well, it was planned by her husband, UNN security with some students. Even when the lady offered him money, he refused. Well, with this, if he still remains, he will never try that again.”

The management of the university later announced the indefinite suspension of the lecturer pending a thorough investigation by a disciplinary panel.

In a statement on Tuesday, signed by its acting Public Relations Officer, Chief Okwun Omeaku, UNN reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct and assured of appropriate disciplinary measures if the lecturer is found guilty.

“The management of the University of Nigeria has suspended Mr (not a Professor) Mfonobong David Udoudom, a lecturer in our General Studies division, who was caught in a video allegedly harassing a female student,” the statement partly read.

“The indefinite suspension is with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary panel constituted by the university to investigate the incident.

“For the records, the University of Nigeria has a zero tolerance for sexual misconduct involving our staff and students. The UNN is among the few universities in the country that has a Sexual Harassment Policy, which guides the relationship between our staff and students in particular and among our male and female staff members.

“As a university, we are committed to protecting our students from any form of abuse and exploitation, and the university management will not hesitate to punish Mr Mfonobong David Udoudom, according to our rules, if he is found guilty by our disciplinary panel.”

It was gathered from sources in the university that shortly before the management slammed the indefinite suspension, the police from the Nsukka Area Command came and picked him up.

“As we speak, he is currently at the Nsukka Police Area Command. But what they do with him is what I don’t know,” said one of the sources who works in the university but pleaded anonymity.

The Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development also pledged to ensure justice prevails in the matter, affirming the state’s commitment to eradicating gender-based violence and exploitation under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.

The Commissioner for Gender, Mrs Ngozi Enih, spoke to our correspondent on the incident saying, “The Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development is aware of the matter and is keenly following developments.

“We are aware that the lecturer in question has been suspended indefinitely by the school authorities and an investigative panel has been set up to look into the matter.

“We are very much interested in getting to the root of the matter and there will be no sweeping of anything under the carpet. We are determined to ensure that justice prevails for all.

“Be it known that under the watch of His Excellency, Peter Mbah, Enugu State has zero tolerance for any form of gender-based violence, harassment or exploitation.”

KanyiDaily had also reported how a lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Joseph Opefeyitimi, 66, was accused of sexually assaulting a 25-year-old female student, Boluwatife Bababunmi in his office.

The controversy at Lead British International School, Abuja, escalated on Tuesday afternoon when a parent physically confronted a student involved in the viral video.

The viral video showed a female student identified as Namtira Bwala enduring physical abuse from another student, Maryam Hassan, who repeatedly slapped her, with bystanders audibly ridiculing her.

The videos sparked widespread outcry online, prompting calls for the school authorities to intervene.

Consequently, on Tuesday, several parents visited the school in an attempt to address the situation.

During the visit, Maryam Hassan, the student seen slapping her peer, was accompanied onto the premises by older male parents.

One parent, visibly agitated, confronted Maryam, questioning her actions and demanding accountability for her behavior.

The woman was heard saying ‘She is proud of what she did. You are proud of what you did! You are proud right? Someone’s child; innocent child, you beat her, did you give birth to her? I am asking you, did you give birth to her?”

The student was trying to walk away so as to avoid confrontation, but the angry parent shoved her, saying, “I’m asking you: did you give birth to her?”

Despite Maryam’s attempts to evade the confrontation, the parent forcibly engaged her, expressing outrage at her actions and delivering a slap on her face before other elderly person intervened to de-escalate the situation.

Amidst the confrontation, Maryam Hassan broke down in tears, went down on her knee and apologized for her actions.

Watch the video below:

Everyone needs to understand that this girl is not just the master mind of this bullying.
The school gave them the platform and they are aware!
Plus who is the mother of this boy??? She did a terrible job as a mother
Expulsion for both!#JusticeForNamtira#LeadBritishSchool pic.twitter.com/nAjMs8pB8h

— lofty ✌️ (@midepeter3) April 23, 2024

This slap isn’t enough for how much they bullied that innocent girl. Nobody should stop anyone trying to teach this small eviI sense. #LeadBritishSchool #JusticeForNamtira pic.twitter.com/kOEmdix2Ya

— Shola 👑 (@itsSh0la) April 23, 2024

The apology she gave is not accepted; it wasn't genuinely from the heart while discerning from the soul, she was forced to give a public apology, so expect her to repeat it next time.

Lastly, I don't know why this guy isn't penalized. Why?#JusticeForNamtira #LeadBritishSchool pic.twitter.com/353nbeKeL1

— Timi speaks with depth ♡✍️ (@timilehindan) April 23, 2024

KanyiDaily recalls that Lead British International School Abuja said it had launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter.