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UNIZIK Graduate Dies While Escaping Prankster
Ifunanya Miracle, who recently graduated from the Department of Quantity Surveying at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka tragically lost her life on Sunday, June 9, 2024, while attempting to escape an alleged robbery by a yet-to-be-identified prankster on the university premises.
The incident also left her friend, Peace, a student in the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, with serious injuries.
It was gathered that Peace was immediately taken to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
Ifunanya, known for her Point-of-Sale business on campus, had just closed her operations for the day and boarded a tricycle with Peace when the robbery attempt occurred.
Authorities are investigating the incident and have yet to identify the suspect responsible for the fatal prank.
The duo were on their way when a passenger beside them allegedly attempted to rob them of their valuables.
A student, speaking anonymously for fear of victimization, reported that in a desperate attempt to escape the robbery, the two students jumped out of the moving tricycle.
While Peace sustained injuries, Miracle was tragically unlucky, hitting her head on the ground during the escape attempt.
The student said, “Miracle just graduated from the University and does a Point-of-Sale operation in the school. The incident happened around 7 pm on June 9, 2024. She does her PoS business at the front of my residence.
“She usually packed her business stuff under the staircase in our compound and the stuff is still there. She packed it and put it back there in the evening. But all of a sudden, we just heard that she was dead.
“We were like how; she still dropped her stuff under the staircase of our compound on Monday. From what we gathered, she was on a moving tricycle with her friend when a fellow passenger, ordered them to give him their phones.
“While trying to escape, Miracle jumped out of the tricycle and hit her head on the road and by the time she was rushed to the hospital, she had died. Her friend, who also jumped out of the tricycle sustained injuries and she is still in hospital.”
Another student said the man, who ordered the victims to surrender their property, later claimed he was pranking them.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the man subsequently turned himself in to the police.
The student said, “We heard the guy has reported himself at the Police station and claimed it was a prank. How can he be pranking someone on a moving tricycle? After the incident, we have not heard anything. This lady (Miracle) just died because of the carelessness of some people who claimed to be pranksters.
“It could be that he wanted to rob and when he saw the outcome of his action, he changed the argument to pranking because of what happened.
“The University has not said anything about the case. The fact that the school has not addressed it is a concern. The girl just did her convocation.
“The girl who died is Ifunanya Miracle, also known as Bliss, and she was a student in the Department of Quantity Surveying. Her friend’s name is Peace, in the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry. She was hospitalised after the incident.”
The school’s spokesperson, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, confirmed the incident on Monday and stated that the prankster, a final-year student, would face disciplinary action following Miracle’s burial.
He said, “The University is fully aware of the incident. It was not a robbery but a very expensive prank. The students were told to bring their phones but they didn’t know it was a prank. So, they jumped, one died and one survived.
“The families of the victims and that of the final-year student who pranked the victims have held a meeting with us and it was established that it was a prank.
“The families have reached some agreement and we want the process of the burial to take place before the student that pranked them will face disciplinary measures.
“It was an unfortunate incident; the school regrets it, the student who pranked them regrets it and the family of the concerned student will take responsibility for the funeral of the dead victim and the hospital bill of the other student. We use this opportunity to warn students to avoid expensive pranks that lead to death, the person will face the music.”
The Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) has defended its position following the controversial ruling by the Confederation of African Football Appeal Board over the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Moroccan football authority said its appeal was strictly aimed at ensuring the proper application of competition rules, and not to question the sporting merit or performance of any team involved in the final.
The federation emphasized its commitment to fairness, transparency, and the stability of African football competitions, noting that its actions were guided by respect for established regulations.
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“The Federation reiterates that its approach has always been grounded in respect for the rules and stability of African competitions,” the statement read.
FRMF also praised all participating nations in the tournament, describing the 2025 AFCON as a significant milestone in the growth and development of football across the continent.
However, the body revealed that a more detailed position would be made public after a scheduled meeting of its governing organs.
The statement is expected to further clarify Morocco’s stance and outline any possible legal or administrative steps moving forward.
The CAF Appeal Board’s decision has continued to generate widespread reactions among football stakeholders, with growing calls for clearer regulations, improved transparency, and consistency in the administration of African football.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have disclosed details of their recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the engagement focused on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clarification came amid speculation surrounding the meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after leaders of several opposition parties attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the president earlier in the week.
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Speaking during a gathering hosted in Abuja by the SDP’s former presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo on Friday, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, said the meeting with Tinubu followed an official invitation from the Presidency and lasted about an hour.
According to Gombe, the discussion centred on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws and restore public confidence in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
He explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders to remind the president of the importance of conducting transparent, free, and credible elections.
Gombe noted that democracy can only thrive when governments listen to the concerns of citizens and ensure electoral processes that guarantee fairness and accountability.
The SDP chairman also expressed concern over growing voter apathy, pointing to the low turnout recorded in the recent Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the Abuja Municipal Area Council election witnessed only about seven per cent voter turnout, which he described as a clear sign that many Nigerians are losing confidence in the electoral system.
Gombe urged the government and members of the National Assembly to take urgent steps to review electoral laws and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, said political parties used the meeting to raise concerns about aspects of proposed electoral reforms, particularly issues related to indirect primaries and the mandatory electronic transmission of results.
Dantalle explained that the parties appealed to the president to use his influence to encourage legislative review where necessary, noting that reforms should strengthen, rather than complicate, the democratic process.
He expressed optimism that Tinubu would consider the concerns raised and support necessary amendments that would improve the electoral system.
The IPAC chairman also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly adhere to electoral guidelines as preparations for the next election cycle begin.
Earlier in his remarks, Adebayo cautioned political actors against turning the 2027 general elections into a do-or-die contest, stressing that the primary goal of democracy should be the progress and stability of Nigeria rather than personal political victories.
He urged leaders across political parties to encourage citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and ensure that elections are conducted peacefully and transparently.
President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Taiwo Oyedele during his nomination on Wednesday.
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