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Category: News

  • Alaba Market Demolition- Ohaneze bemoans plight of Igbo traders

    The Ohaneze Ndigbo has expressed concern over the lingering problems in Lagos over the planned demolition of some property at the Alaba Market dominated by Igbo traders.

    The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said this in a statement issued by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia on Saturday in Enugu.

    Ohaneze said since the disturbing news broke out, they had made investigations in order to establish the true state of affairs.

    Iwuanyanwu said, “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been drawn to several fake publications circulating on social media alleging a decision by the Lagos State Government to take actions to victimize the Igbo citizens domiciled in Lagos”.

    He said based on its investigation, one reliable source, Comrade Chinedu Ukatu, Member, Lagos State Market Advisory Council said, “the Lagos State Environment and Development Authority has been issuing warnings as regards the obstruction of some waterways”.

    Ukatu, who is also the President Ndigbo-Amaka Progressive Market Association, Lagos, added “all that happened at Alaba and the emergency visit by the state government officials were directly about those blocking the free flow of water through the provided water ways”.

    Ukatu explained that the directive as “not in any way related to plazas and shops on the markets or along the market road”.

    He enjoined all and sundry to “disregard the statements and video messages trending on the internet and admonished that such propaganda was not necessary for the Igbos at this time”.

    Another Alaba resident, Chief Ikechukwu Okolo told Ohaneze that, some structures were erected on waterways, thereby obstructing drainages and causing flooding, especially during the rainy seasons.

    Okolo stated that, “the owners of the affected structures have since been notified, for months, but as we can see, each time the execution order was to be effected, corrupt Government officials would get compromised, and the flooding challenge continues, until this time”.

    Chief Evaristus Ozonweke, an Ohaneze chieftain, resident in Lagos, has also validated the above position.

    Iwuanyanwu urged the Lagos State Environment and Development Authority (LASEDA) to exercise prudence and best considerations in discharging their duties as he asked the Igbo in Lagos to remain calm.

    He, therefore, indicated a pressing need to visit Lagos and the South West in the next few weeks as he was very optimistic that during the visit, all the challenges confronting the Igbo in Lagos would be addressed. 

  • Gunmen kidnap 67-year-old Chief Imam

    Gunmen kidnap 67-year-old Chief Imam

    The Police in Ondo State have confirmed the abduction of Alhaji Ibrahim Bodunde-Oyinlade, the Chief Imam of USO community in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

    The 67-year-old Chief Imam was abducted on his farm at Asolo Farm Camp on Saturday afternoon.

    A family member said they reported to the police when Bodunde-Oyinlade did not return home by 2pm and calls to his mobile phone were not answered.

    “The kidnappers have contacted the family but are yet to demand for ransom,” he said on condition of anonymity.

    SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, Police spokesperson in the state, however, confirmed the incident.

    He said policemen and vigilantes were combing the forest in search of the Chief Imam.

    Odunlami-Omisanya told newmen that the victim’s car and mobile phone were found at the farm.

    “It was at about 6pm that the family members came to report the incident at the police station in USO community.

    “The DPO, policemen, and vigilantes are searching the area for possible rescue,” he added.

  • Emefiele: DSS cautions against campaign of calumny

    The Department of State Services (DSS) said it has uncovered plans by some persons and groups to stage campaigns of calumny against it and the Federal Government.

    A statement by Dr Peter Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer of DSS on Saturday in Abuja, said the planned campaign was over the suspension and investigation of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

    He said the groups planned to gather at different points in Abuja and Lagos in the coming week with placards depicting the service and the federal government in a bad light.

    Afunanya said the group also planned to call for the immediate release of Emefiele during the campaign.

    He warned that the service will not be distracted by the cheap propaganda aimed at demotivating and distracting it from professionally executing its responsibilities.

    “It has also noted the misleading commentaries, speculative narratives, storylines and videos being circulated in the social media by uninformed parties, critics and/or desperadoes.

    “It is mindful of orchestrations to infiltrate its fold for the purpose of using disloyal staff for subversive aims against its leadership.

    “While these efforts are considered as hatchet jobs designed to distract, the service warns the plotters to desist forthwith from their plans,” he said.

    Afunanya said the arrow heads of the planned campaign were already under watch and would be apprehended if it becomes necessary.

    He disclosed that the service had granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials and appropriate persons access to him, since the day he was taken in and long before the court order requesting so.

    According to him, the service has Standard Operating Procedures on suspects handling and investigations, and complies with it to the latter.

    He said the service will continue to conduct its affairs transparently, professionally and in deference of the rule of law, in line with democratic governance.

     

  • 4 killed in Ibadan-Oyo Expressway auto crash

    Four persons lost their lives to an auto crash on the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway on Saturday while many others were injured as the bus involved in the accident somersaulted several times.

    Unit Commander of the FRSC at Atiba, Oyo, DCC Bayode Olugbesan, blamed the accident on over speeding and overloading.

    Olugbesan said the 14-seater bus was carrying 20 persons when the accident occurred.

    He said corpses of the dead had been deposited at the mortuary of the State Hospital, Oyo.

    “The bus, conveying all-male passengers was travelling toward the northern part of the country when the accident occurred,’’ he said.

    “The bus was designed to carry 14 passengers, but was loaded with 20 passengers,’’ he noted.

    Olugbesan appealed to road users to be careful while driving, and to avoid over speeding, overloading and night travels.

     

  • Oil Theft Allegations: Produce evidence, Navy tackles Asari Dokubo

    The Nigerian Navy has described as spurious, the allegations by ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, that some cabals in the military are involved in oil theft in the region.

    Dokubo made the claims when he visited President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Friday.

    Reacting to the accusation, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, on Saturday challenged Dokubo to produce evidence and names of those behind the criminality.

    Ayo-Vaughan said the Nigerian military, and the navy in particular, had been at the forefront of fighting crude oil theft at all levels in the country.

    He said that while crude oil being stolen from pipelines was being refined in the creeks for the local market and the local buyers, it was also being stolen by criminals from offshore at sea.

    “You remember the case of Mt Heroic Idun that was made to pay fines to the Nigerian government after they were arrested and brought back from Guinea Bissau, Malabo Island, and made to face court orders.

    “It demonstrated the will of the Navy to go as far as even beyond our waters to arrest a ship that attempted to load without a license, without due approval in April last year.

    “I was there physically on board one of our ships at FOT in Onne when the navy launched Operation Dakatarda Barawo, which means ‘stop the thief’ in Hausa.

    “Stop the thief that is stealing the nation’s natural resources, the hydrocarbons.

    “Nigerian Navy has been fighting crude oil theft, taking the fight to the creeks and as I speak to you, our men are battling in the creeks.

    “So, what I will just say is, Asari Dokubo is seeking some form of relevance and whatever.

    “He alleges that there is a cabal of military people that are involved in crude oil theft, let him bring the names.

    “Nobody is afraid of getting the names of those involved in crude oil theft.

    “You cannot make such spurious allegations and think that we will just sweep it down the carpet,” he said.

    Ayo-Vaughan said neither the Chief of Defense Staff nor the Chief of Naval Staff will condone such act.

    According to him, the Nigerian navy will not be distracted by the allegations and will continue to be actively involved in the fight against crude oil theft and resources in the Niger Delta.

    “So for anybody to say that there is a cabal of military officers, the only simple thing to do is bring the evidence, bring the names,” he stressed.

    The Navy spokesman said that the efforts of the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta was the reason Nigeria regained top spot in oil production in the month of May among oil producing countries in Africa, as confirmed by OPEC, NUPRC and others.

  • 40 killed by militants in Uganda school attack

    At least 40 people, mostly students, have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group.

    A further eight people remain in critical condition after the attack on Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe.

    Boys who were staying in dormitories at the school are among the dead.

    The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – a Ugandan group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – have been blamed for Friday’s attack.

    Many of the bodies were transferred to Bwera Hospital, national police spokesperson Fred Enanga said.

    The attack happened at around 23:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Friday at the school in the Kasese district in western Uganda.

    Over 60 people are educated at the school, most of whom live there.

    ADF rebels burnt a dormitory and a food store was also looted during the incident, Mr Enanga said.

    Some of the boys were burnt or hacked to death, Major General Dick Olum from the Ugandan army told the media.

    Others at the school, mostly girls, have been abducted by the group, he added.

    Some of the bodies are said to have been badly burnt and DNA tests will need to be carried out to identify them.

    The attackers are said to have torched the students’ mattresses and are also thought to have detonated bombs in the region.

    Members of the wider community are possibly among the dead. A number of students remain unaccounted for.

    Soldiers are pursuing ADF insurgents towards the DRC’s Virunga National park – Africa’s oldest and largest national park which is home to rare species, including mountain gorillas.

    Militias including the ADF also use the vast expanse, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, as a hideout.

    “Our forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy this group,” defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said on Twitter.

    The Ugandan army has also deployed planes to help track the rebel group.

    Uganda and the DRC have held joint military operations in the east Congo to prevent attacks by the ADF.

    Security forces had intelligence that rebels were in the border area on the DRC side for at least two days before Friday night’s attack, Major General Olum said.

    The deadly episode follows last week’s attack by suspected ADF fighters in a village in the DRC near to the Ugandan border. Over 100 villagers fled to Uganda but have since returned.

    The attack on the school, located less than two kilometres (1.25 miles) from the DRC border, is the first such attack on a Ugandan school in 25 years.

    In June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the border of DRC. More than 100 students were abducted.

    The ADF was created in eastern Uganda in the 1990s and took up arms against long-serving President, Yoweri Museveni, alleging government persecution of Muslims.

    After its defeat by the Ugandan army in 2001, it relocated to North Kivu province in the DRC.

    The group’s principal founder, Jamil Makulu, was arrested in Tanzania in 2015 and is in custody in a Ugandan prison.

    ADF rebels have been operating from inside the DRC for the past two decades.

    Makulu’s successor, Musa Seka Baluku, reportedly first pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2016, but it was not until April 2019 that IS first acknowledged its activity in the area.

    In 2021, suicide bombings in Uganda’s capital Kampala and other parts of the country were blamed on the ADF.

    -BBC

  • IGP deploys newly promoted Frank Mba, Bala Ciroma, others

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Baba Alkali has approved the deployment  of the two newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIG), Frank Mba and Bala Ciroma to departments.

    The Force Public Relations Officer,  CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    He said Mba had been deployed  to head the Department of Research and Planning while Ciroma was deployed to head the Department of Training and Development

    Adejobi said Mr Hafiz Inuwa, a DIG had also been redeployed to head the Department of Logistics and Supply.

    According to Adejobi, with the recent elevation, Ciroma has become the supervising DIG for the North-East and Mba, the supervisory DIG for the South-East Geo political zone.

    The police spokesman said the IGP also approved the posting/redeployment of 17 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to various commands and formations.

    He said the posting are Abubakar Lawal,  AIG Zone 10 Sokoto, Abdul Umar, AIG Zone 15 Maiduguri, Williams Adebowale, AIG Zone 7 Abuja, Shettima Zanna, AIG Armament FHQ Abuja,  Ebong Eyibio Ebong, AIG Zone 17 Akure and Adepoju Ilori, AIG Maritime Lagos.

    Others are Okon Effiong, AIG FCID Annex Kaduna, Echeng Echeng,  AIG Zone 9 Umuahia, Susan Horsefall, Commandant Staff College Jos,  Bankole Sikiru, AIG DFA FHQ Abuja, Oladimeji Olanrewaju, AIG Zone 11 Osogbo and Odama Ojeka, AIG FEDOPS FHQ, Abuja.

    Adejobi said other AIGs deployed are Shehu Gwarzo, AIG Forensic, Yekini Ayoku, AIG R&P, FHQ Abuja, Yahaya Abubakar, AIG FCID Alagbon Lagos, Umar Sanda, AIG Zone 1 Kano and Ede Ayuba, AIG CTU FHQ Abuja.

    Adejobi said the Police Boss urged the senior police officers to continue to entrench professionalism and respect for rights of citizens in their new places of assignment.

    He also called on the officers to pursue the task of ensuring public safety and security in their areas of responsibilities with renewed vigour. 

  • Customs intercepts N37.8m Indian hemp, drugs in Kebbi

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi Area Command, has intercepted 104 parcels of Indian hemp, 359 sacks of diazepam and 70 packs of tramadol in the state.

    The Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo, made this known while handing over the drugs to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Birnin Kebbi at the weekend.

    “On 11th June, based on a tip-off from well-meaning citizens about a vehicle conveying offensive goods into the country, the command’s officers and men swung into action.

    “At about 10 am through stop and search along Kamba-Kyangakwai road, the officers and men were able to identify the vehicle suspected to be carrying the illegal concealment.

    “After thorough search and examination, 104 parcels (laptop size of 1kg each) of cannabis sativa and 99 (5mg) diazepam tablets were found concealed in the vehicle driven by a middle-aged man, Sulaiman Yusuf,” he said.

    Oramalugo also said 70 packs of tramadol 225mg and 260 diazepam tablets 5mg, were found by the patrol team on June 5, abandoned along a footpath in Kamba-Rijiyar Maikafi bush.

    The Area Commander handed over the seized items valued at N37.8 million and the suspect to the NDLEA, Kebbi command, for further action.

    He also said that the command had seized various smuggled items in the last four weeks in the state.

    Oramalugo said that the contraband included 107 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 38 bales of second-hand clothing, 1,275 litres of PMS, 52 jerrycans of vegetable oil, one Honda accord 2014 and a used Opel vehicle, among others.

    According to him, the duty paid value of the seized items is N64.6 million.

    Oramalugo reiterated the Command’s commitment in carrying out its core mandate and zero tolerance for smuggling.

    In his remarks, while receiving the drugs, the NDLEA Commander in Kebbi, Sulaiman Usman, thanked the NCS for their efforts, assistance and collaboration with the agency.

    “This is the manifestation of the inter-agency collaborative efforts between the Chief Executive of NDLEA and NCS in order to stamp out the menace of drug abuse in our society,” he said.

  • Internet Fraud: EFCC arrests FMC staff, 50 others in Ogun, Oyo

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal office, has arrested a staff of Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta in Ogun, and 47 others for alleged involvement in internet fraud.

    This is contained in a statement signed the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

    48 suspects were arrested in Ogun and three others in Oyo State.

    Uwujaren said that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday at the Idi-Aba area of Abeokuta, following intelligence on their alleged fraudulent activities.

    He said that items recovered from the suspects included seven exotic vehicles, several mobile phones, laptops, Apple wristwatches, among others.

    Uwujaren said that two suspects were arrested the same day at the Idi-Igba area of Ibadan in Oyo state, and two cars and other valuables were recovered from them.

    He said that the Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police also arrested and handed over a cybercrime suspect to the EFCC.

    Uwujaren said that the suspect was arrested at his house on suspicion of involvement in fraudulent activities.

    He said that a Honda Civic car and mobile phones were also recovered from him.

    Uwujaren said that all the suspects would be charged in court after the completion of an investigation.

  • Police rescue 6 abducted UniJos students

    The Police Command in Plateau has rescued six out of the seven students of the University of Jos that were kidnapped by gunmen on Monday.

    DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, disclosed this in a statement in Jos.

    According to Alabo, five of the students were rescued, while one escaped from the kidnappers’ den unhurt.

    ”The Police command is pleased to announce to the general public that six of the seven victims who were kidnapped on June 13, have regained their freedom.

    ”The command swung into action immediately after the incident was reported, worked tirelessly in collaboration with its Anti-Kidnapping unit, family members of the victims and the community to secure the release of the victims.

    ”Five of the victims were rescued, one escaped from the kidnappers den, while one victim is still in captivity,” Alabo said.

    He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, has ordered the Area Commander Metro, and the Divisional Police Officer Nasarawa Gwong, to ensure that the seventh victim is rescued unhurt and the perpetrators arrested.

    The victims were abducted from their hostel which is located off campus on Monday night in Jos while preparing for their second semester examinations.