A prominent lawyer and human rights advocate, James Ibor, has called for an end to the age-old tradition of paying and collecting bride price in Nigeria, describing it as a practice that symbolizes slavery and the domination of women by men.

Speaking at a women’s event in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Ibor, who serves as the principal counsel at the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, also advocated for married women to retain their family names instead of adopting their husbands’ names.

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The event, themed “Amplifying Women’s Representation in Politics with a Special Focus on the Special Seats Bill,” was organized by the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with the civil society organization Stand To End Rape.

Ibor emphasized that the payment of bride price perpetuates inequality and denies women their rights.

“Women are not commodities that should be purchased by men. It tells of signs of slavery, denial of women’s rights, and domination by men. Payment of bride price should stop,” he said.

Sharing his personal experience, Ibor revealed, “I insisted against paying bride price to the family of my wife. We merely exchanged gifts. I strongly recommend replacing this odd and slavish practice with the exchange of gifts between the bride and groom’s families.”

He further urged society to respect women’s autonomy, including their right to retain their family names after marriage.

“Women should be at liberty to bear their chosen names. Changing names should not be an obligation but a choice,” he stated.

The lawyer also condemned the practice in parts of Cross River State where women are denied rights to land and property.

He called for systemic reforms to address these inequalities, urging the government and civil society to collaborate in promoting women’s rights.

The event served as a platform to spotlight the critical role of women in politics and to advocate for legislative reforms aimed at increasing their representation and safeguarding their rights.

A bizarre incident has left a local herbalist, Ismail Usman, fighting for his life after a failed attempt to demonstrate the efficacy of a self-made “bulletproof” charm.

The event took place on November 23 in Kuchibuyi village, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Usman, reportedly confident in the protective powers of the charm he had prepared, used a locally fabricated shotgun to shoot himself in the stomach.

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However, the charm proved ineffective, resulting in severe injuries.

FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, detailing the police’s response.

“A distress call from Shandam Michael reported a shocking event involving Ismail Usman, a local herbalist known for his unconventional methods. In a misguided attempt to test the effectiveness of a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm, Usman shot himself in the stomach with a shotgun,” Adeh stated.

She added, “Unfortunately, the charm failed to protect him, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Officers from the Byazhin Division responded swiftly, arriving at the scene to find Usman in critical condition.

“He was quickly transported to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further care.”

The police conducted a search of Usman’s residence following the incident, recovering the shotgun and several charms allegedly used in the failed experiment.

The statement also noted that Usman is likely to face legal consequences.

“Investigations are ongoing, and Usman is expected to face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria,” Adeh revealed.

FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, condemned the reckless act, highlighting the inherent dangers of illegal firearms and unverified practices.

The United Kingdom has launched its largest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Africa, located in Ikeja, Lagos, marking a major enhancement in the visa application process for Nigerians.

The new facility, operated by VFS Global, was unveiled on November 27, 2024, and is expected to improve the efficiency of visa submissions.

British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, who attended the launch, expressed optimism that the new centre would enhance the UK-Nigeria relationship and provide better services for applicants.

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Baxter stated, “Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS delivers ever-improving services for those applying for visas to the UK.”

The new Ikeja centre joins existing locations in Abuja and Victoria Island. According to Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status, and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration, over 225,000 UK visas were processed for Nigerian nationals between August 2023 and June 2024, reflecting the growing demand for UK travel.

The new centre offers a range of enhanced services, including document upload assistance, SMS updates, and premium services for a more personalised experience. Additionally, residents in Abuja now have access to a Mobile Visa Service, allowing them to submit applications locally.

VFS Global, a long-term partner of UK Visas and Immigration, has expanded its operations from 58 countries to 142, underscoring its role in managing visa services worldwide.