Look back at the 17 biggest stories of 2016
Year 2016 was quite eventful. We saw life, death, famine and plenty. We laughed at, jeered at, cried over, screamed at and weere angered by the many stories that dominated the news.
We believe the following stories had the strongest grip on our attention in the year gone by.
Lowo Oyediran alleged murder
February – Yewande, a “highly-connected” Ibadan lawyer allegedly stabbed husband Lowo Oyediran to death. She allegedly claimed he was having an affair. The widely reported tragedy reignited a debated about domestic violence with emphasis on whether spouses should stay in abusive relationships. Yewande’s case is still in court. She could be sentenced to death if found guilty of murder.
“Seven-year-old burnt to death for stealing garri”
November – We were shocked to hear that a “boy”, who stole garri to keep hunger pangs at bay, was apprehended and burnt to death in Badagry. Many who condemned the reported incident softened their tone after learning the “boy” was a “20-something-year-old” Orile gangster notorious for robbing Lagosians at knife-point.
Mayowa lost cancer fight
Nigerians rallied to raise over N80 million for cancer-battling University of Lagos graduate, Mayowa Ahmed, but couldn’t save her. She died at a South African hospital in August. Fundraising efforts were tainted by suspected foul play by Mayowa’s family prompting police probe. The family denied claims they tried defrauding compassionate donors.
Southern Kaduna killings
At least 808 people have been killed in Kaduna in renewed communal clashes, the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan said. No less than 53 villages were reportedly attacked with 1,422 houses razed, 16 churches torched, 19 shops vandalized, and one primary school destroyed. Fulani herdsmen are believed to be behind the attacks. Governor Nasir El-Rufai admitted to paying some Fulani herdsmen in a bid to placating them. The renewed killings came amid El-Rufai’s infuriating revelation. Protesting topless women reportedly attacked the governor’s convoy when he visited a southern Kaduna to appeal to residents who were losing family members like Christmas chickens.
21 chibok girls return home
October – Boko Haram terrorists released 21 of the over 200 kidnapped Chibok girls after reported negotiations with the government. The girls’ parents, after they were denied full access to the girls during Christmas, claimed their daughters had become “prisoners” of the Nigerian government. Nigeria’s military claimed to have captured Sambisa Forest without locating the remaining Chibok girls.
UNILAG’s Ayodele Dada graduates with 5.0 CGPA
Dada, who studied Psychology, is the first person to graduate with maximum CGPA since Nigerian switched to the course unit system. He made history.
Mark Zuckerberg in Nigeria
An August visitor – The Facebook CEO won Nigerian hearts when he walked the streets of Yaba, the country’s tech hub, and jogged on a Lagos Island bridge. He later took selfies with President Muhammadu Buhari inside Aso Rock. The young billionaire also ate pounded yam, we heard. He’s investing in Nigerian startups. Some fear the entire romance could result in “brain drain” and capital flight.
Starvation, corruption, sexual abuse in IDP camps
Who are the real terrorists? As Nigeria’s military deal Boko Haram deadly blows, millions displaced by terrorism, and scattered across IDP camps reportedly fall victim to security officials and politicians who loot charity funds, and demand sex from starving girls. Nigeria’s SGF Babachir Lawal has been named in the entire mess.
Rise and spread of Ponzi schemes
MMM Nigeria. NNN Nigeria. iCharity. Ultimate Recycler. Name it. A ponzi harmattan swept across the country in 2016. The schemes, observers warn, are bound to crash with resultant anguish and mass suicides. Many blame their participation in these schemes on the ailing economy. Critics say most participants are driven by greed.
Economic recession
“Buharinomics”, spelled President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic policies, among other factors, drove Nigeria into recession. The naira continued to perform horribly against other currencies. The cost of everything skyrocketed in the Year 2016. Hope the 2017 Budget fix this. Recession is not just a word. Ask the average Nigerian.
Nigerian “witchkid” rescued by Denmark woman
Earlier this year, Danish aid worker Anja Ringgren Loven spotted a starving 2-year-old boy abandoned by his Nigerian family for “being a witch”. The boy, whom Loven later named Hope, could barely walk. The Danish woman gave him hope. Loven was later recognized as the most influential person in the world for her efforts to help abandoned children accused of being witches in Nigeria. She topped an international list of 100 inspiring individuals compiled by German-language Ooom Magazine, beating Barack Obama, Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama.
Eunice Olawale Elisha, slain Kubwa Abuja preacher
The Nigerian Police are yet to name any suspect in the alleged murder of Abuja megaphone preacher Eunice Olawale Elisha. Her killing is believe to be religiously motivated. The woman was survived by her pastor-husband and seven children. They are being taken care of by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) where the husband serve as pastor.
Donald Trump
Real estate mogul Donald Trump defeated world favourite Hillary Clinton to emerge America’s President-Elect. The campaign was so laced with racism, anger, deceit, division and mudslinging Time Magazine called Trump “President-Elect of the Divided States of America” while naming him Man of the Year 2016.
Cucumber
October – From Time‘s Man of the Year to Nigeria’s Vegetable of the Year. An innocent cucumber became the subject of public discourse after Chidinma Okeke’s (a former beauty queen) sex video went viral. The cucumber played dildo in a shocking footage leaked online. Okeke, in tears, told The Nation she was made to perform the sex acts before being crowned Miss Anambra. The organisers, she said, leaked the tape when she failed to bow to their wishes.
Tomato scarcity
The tomato you now buy for N50 used to sell for N2,000. Nigeria was hit by harsh tomato scarcity earlier in 2016. The situation was blamed on the displacement of northeastern farmers by Boko Haram terrorists, and on tomato-eating pest Tuta Absoluta. Nigerians used the situation to jokingly rile at La Tomatina, a Spanish festival where tomatoes are practically wasted. We’re glad to have our tomatoes back.
Agatu killings
At least 300 people were reportedly killed by Fulani herdsmen in Agatu, Benue State, while the Nigerian military allegedly failed to act, and the Nigerian government kept mute. Killings also occurred in Enugu and other locations across Nigeria where herdsmen trespass on farmlands.
Femi Adeyeye
Year 2016 witnessed varsities across Nigeria victimising students for standing for their rights. Rusticated University of Lagos (UNILAG) student Femi Adeyeye became the poster child of that struggle against varsity managements’ apparent highhandedness. Adeyeye was handed a four-semester suspension after criticising UNILAG VC on Facebook. The criticism followed the management’s decision to clamp down on students who were demanding basic amenities like water and electricity. Several other UNILAG students were rusticated. They have dragged the school to court.
What did we miss? Please let us know in the comment section below. Happy New Year.
