At least 10 persons have died after a building collapsed in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, at Jegeda Oluloyo, Ona Ara LGA.

In a statement, the Oyo State Fire Service Agency said seven persons were rescued from the rubble.

“The Oyo State Fire Services Agency received a distressed call at around 2 am this morning at Jegede Olunloyo area, Ibadan, of which 10 persons have been recovered from the debris of the collapsed building, while seven persons were rescued alive,” the statement reads.

“Rescue operation is still going on.”

The incident adds to the growing list of building collapse incidents across the country.

In June 2023, a two-storey building collapsed in the Inalende area of Ibadan following a downpour.

At least seven people died last weekend after a building collapsed in the Sabon Lugbe area of Abuja.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has arrested Jubril Musa,“a major arms dealer”, in Plateau state.

In a statement on Thursday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the NPF, said Musa was apprehended with a cache of weapons.

He added that the suspect confessed to supplying arms to bandits and kidnappers in the region.

“The suspect, identified as Jubril Musa ‘m’, was arrested with 2 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition (long), 1 Makarov pistol, 1 fabricated Bronny pistol, a single round of 7.8mm live ammunition, 2 rounds of G3 live ammunition, 4 rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition (short), and a single round of 9mm live ammunition,” he said.

Adejobi added that within a month, the police arrested hundreds of suspects connected to crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder.

“Since October 1, 2024, the Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant achievements in the fight against crime,” Adejobi added.

“These include the arrest of 371 armed robbery suspects, 186 kidnapping suspects, 242 murder/homicide suspects, 63 suspects connected with the unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 217 rape suspects, and 167 suspected cultists.

“Additionally, 210 firearms and 3,172 rounds of various calibres of ammunition were recovered.

“The Police were also able to recover 118 stolen vehicles and rescue 64 kidnapping victims across the country.”

Adejobi said the arrests demonstrate the force’s commitment under Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), to address threats to public safety.

“The Inspector General of Police once again reassures members of the public of the Police Force’s dedication to enhancing the safety and security of the country through various tactical operations, intelligence-led policing, and community engagement strategies,” he said.

“The goal of these initiatives is to achieve a substantial decrease in crime rates across the country and to make significant strides in combating violent crimes such as banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and cybercrime.

“Embracing a multifaceted approach to law enforcement, the Nigeria Police Force remains relentless in its mission to reduce crimes and criminalities in accordance with the Rule of Law, upholding the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out duties of protecting lives and properties.”

A former Secretary to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr John Ogah, continued his testimony on Wednesday before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, where he disclosed that his former boss, Godwin Emefiele, listed his niece as one of the beneficiaries of funds from an account allegedly operated on his behalf.

Ogah, who is testifying as the 6th prosecution witness made the disclosure while answering questions from the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo.

Ogah told the court that he’s aware that the former CBN Governor once instructed the 5th prosecution witness, an account officer with Zenith bank, Ifeoma Ogbonnaya, to send funds into the account of his niece named Hannah.

Emefiele’s Counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olalekan Ojo, raised objections to this line of questions and queried the relevance of the testimony as Hannah’s name was not mentioned anywhere in the charge. He insisted that it was an attempt to introduce sensationalism into the matter.

The EFCC Counsel, however, countered the objection, he maintained that it was connected to the fact in issue and abuse of office charge and of conferring corrupt advantage on Emefiele’s associates and immediate family members including his wife, Margaret.

Through the witness, the EFCC also tendered in evidence, several email messages he sent to the account officer of three companies, Comec Support Services Ltd, Limelight Multideimensional Services Ltd and Andswin Resources Limited in Zenith Bank to transfer funds to certain beneficiaries.

The EFCC had alleged that the companies were used to launder funds for the former CBN governor.

Justice Rahman Oshodi has adjourned the case to November 28, 2024, for continuation of trial.