The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Suspected 25-yr-old burglar arrested

    A suspected burglar, Babajide Sokeye a.k.a. prophet has been arrested by the police in Sango – Ota, Ogun State.

    The 25-year-old suspect was nabbed by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    Sokeye forcibly broke into the apartment of one of his neighbours, Kayode Ahmed, who had travelled out of town for some days.

    The suspect Babajide forced his way into Ahmed’s apartment through one of the windows in the building and moved valuables inside the three bedroom apartment including television stand, fan, gas cylinder, utensils, three cups of rice and pressing iron among others into his own room.

    Following a petition to the IRT by Ahmed, Sokeye was tracked trailed to his hideout in the neighbourhood and the stolen items were recovered from him.

    Read Also: Police rescue teenage burglar from mob attack

    Police sources confirmed that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of Sokeye’s gang.

    Confessing, Sokeye said: “ l am a cobbler. I am not married yet due to lack of money. I stay at Ojuore area of Ota, Ogun state. My father is late and I am the one taking care of my mother.

    “I found out that the occupants of the three bed room flat had traveled and would spend some days before they come back from their community. I went there to start looting their property but , to my greatest surprise, three guys(burglars) jumped out of the flat, beating me to it. They had been looting the apartment before I started my own.

    “I was annoyed.  I returned home to prepare myself well and collected house breaking tools . Luckily, when I came back that same day at about 9: 00pm I discovered that those guys had already removed the burglary proof. I then entered the house through the window. The three bedroom apartment is at Isale Wahidan Street, Ota.

    ‘’The owner travelled out of town with his family. He just padlocked the gate. My own house is on the next street, a self-contained room where I pay N80,000 per year. That night I passed and entered through the kitchen and started parking those things that I felt were most needed by me for the mean time.

  • Traders lament bad road, environment at Ojuwoye market

    A cross section of traders at the popular Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, Lagos, on Friday lamented what they described as the deplorable condition of the access roads in the area and the filthy environment at the market.

    They explained that the situation was adversely affecting  their businesses particularly during the rainy season.

    The traders urged concerned authorities to take drastic measures to redress the situation.

    A grocery store owner, Friday Ikechukwu said the deplorable condition of the only access road in the market hampers easy transportation of goods and movement of shoppers.

    Read Also: Traders recount losses after scavengers, miscreants clash in Lagos market

    He also said that one of the major challenges facing traders was insecurity adding that ‘’ some of my goods were stolen about three days ago.’’

    A fabric merchant, Mrs Rofiat Adebayo attributed the deplorable environment to lack of good drainage system.

    “I have been trading in this market for over 20 years.  The access road in this market is bad because there is  no adequate drainage to let the water flow and this area is congested.

    A tomato seller who asked not to be named said she suffered loss whenever it rained.

    “I have been selling tomatoes for over 15 years now. The condition of the environment is bad and I hardly open for business whenever it rains.

    “Both the state and local government authorities should come to our aid by giving facelift to the access road and do something about the filthy environment in this market which is as a result of poor drainage system.”

  • Police arrest suspected fraudsters in Kaduna, Abuja

    Eleven suspected fraudsters have been apprehended in Kaduna State and Abuja.

    The suspects were nabbed by the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The suspects including a 28-year-old woman, Peace Eje were smoked out of their hideouts in Kabala area of Kaduna State and Jabi area of Abuja.

    The rest are: Frank Pius; Nduka Innocent; Okechukwu John; Nicholas Nwosu; Chikezie Uwandu; Amos Eze; Ikechukwu John; Michael Ali; Usman Ladan and Lawrence Adams.

    Their modus operandi is driving around in  taxis and stir up conversation about a bag filled with foreign currencies in the boot of their car.

    The cab driver would then accuse the supposed owner of the bag of trying to get him and other passengers into trouble by not informing him about the content in the bag stuffed with foreign currencies.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests notorious internet fraudster, Oyediran wanted by FBI

    The supposed owner of the bag would confess  that the money in the bag was stolen from an Alhaji who is very powerful and the owner was looking for a spiritualist that would help take away the charms in the money.

    The owner would also offer to share the money with everyone in the vehicle if they decided to help take the money for cleansing.

    If their target is a greedy person, he would pick interest in the story and from that point, he will be taken to a fake native doctor where he or she would be made to swear to an oath not to reveal their secret to anyone and from that point the victim would be swindle of all his money.

    The 45-year-old leader of the syndicate, Adams, who was arrested alongside 10 other members of his gang, said he was once a victim of fraudsters.

    The Akoko Edo born suspect and father of nine from two women said: “I reside in Abuja metropolis, but formerly I was into tomato business and I was buying from Zaria and was supplying to several parts of the country.

    “I was once a victim of fraud and I lost N850,000 to the syndicate and I was then persuaded to join the  syndicate  in the year 2007. When I joined (the syndicate) they taught me how to do the job.

    “I can’t count the number of people I have duped. We have several offices in Jabi and Zango close to Turkish Hospital at old Karmo.”

  • Suspected hoodlums rape 16-yr-old girl to death

    The decomposing body of a 16-year-old girl allegedly raped to death by suspected hoodlums in Isale Ijeun area of Idi Ape in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has been found in a bush in the neighbourhood.

    Aishat Shodeinde was allegedly abducted on Friday, August16, while returning home by some unidentified men who proceeded to gang-rape her to death in the bush.

    Aishat was, until her tragic death, an SS3 student at an unnamed secondary school.

    She was simultaneously undergoing training as an auxiliary nurse in a hospital in the neighbourhood.

    Sources said she had repeatedly turned down love advances from one of the suspected hoodlums.

    A search party was launched to find her  soon after her relations realized that she had been unusually  away from home for too long.

    Read Also Police arrest pastor over alleged rape in Oyo

    Her corpse was found near a rock by members of  the So Safe Corps when they raided a joint operated by hemp smokers near the bush.

    The matter was reported to a police division at Itoku area of Abeokuta but nothing was done to apprehend the culprits.

    A source said: “We learnt the girl was accosted by the hoodlums while she was returning home and they forcibly took her to the bush and gang-raped her to death. “The  police divisional headquarters at Oke Itoku was duly informed about the incident but their search for Aishat’s whereabouts did not yield fruits.

    “It was the operatives of So Safe Corps who raided a hemp smoking joint that recovered her body after they perceived odour from the bush near the joint.’’

    A source said that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

    Police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi did not respond to enquiries sent to his mobile phone at press time.

    He also did not pick his phone when he was called.

  • Bauchi Gov sacks SA political affairs

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has sacked his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Alh. Musa Shittu.

    This was disclosed in a press statement on Friday by the spokesperson of the Governor, Dr Ladan Salihu.

    Read Also: How Bauchi House impasse was resolved

    The Nation could not ascertain what led to his disengagement as at the time of filing this report.

    The governor thanked the former special adviser for his contribution towards the development of the state.

  • Ekweremadu assault: APC chieftain calls for restrain

    The Chairman, All Progressives Congress based in Germany, Hon. Olalekan Ogunwede has condemned the assault on the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    In a statement made available to the Nation, he said; “the coordinated assault on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, which some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, in Nuremberg, Germany claimed responsibility for, is condemnable.”

    Read Also: IPOB lawyer regrets attack on Ekweremadu

    He said; “as it is the fundamental human rights of any group or individuals as Nigerian to express their opinions and demand their rights from every elected leader, it is also important that we conduct our acts in a very civil manner even in the light of untenable stewardship.”

    He enjoined any aggrieved groups or individuals to channel their grievances through legitimate diplomacy, civil protest and politicking rather than otherwise.

    He further implored restrain to be observed and that through dissenting and active engagement with the necessary sector of government, more can be achieved through instrument of diplomacy than violence.

  • Experts proffer solutions to tackle corruption and insecurity in Nigeria

    Security experts have called for preventive and proactive measure through state policing, effective judicial system amongst others as solutions to tackling corruption and insecurity in Nigeria.

    These solutions were brought to the fore during a panel discussion tagged ‘fighting corruption and insecurity in Nigeria: the way forward’ organised by scroll report media organization at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja.

    The event had in attendance, Ex-Commissioner of police, Lagos, Fatai Owoseni; Satguru Maharaj II; 2019 Oyo state female governorship aspirant, Bolanle Aliyu-Sarumi; Kenny St. Brown, Mr. Wahab Shittu, Mrs. Toun Sonaiya; Head of Department Mass Comm, UNILAG, Prof. Abigael; Mr. Frank Onita, Mr. Martins Oloja, Mr Ojikutu Ahmed, amongst others

    Speaking at the conference, Ex-commissioner of police, Lagos state and the current special adviser to the Oyo state governor on security matters, Fatai Owoseni said the elites were parts of the current problem of this country.

    corruption and insecurity in Nigeria

    He said “Nigeria is one of the most difficult places to govern and enforce law. Those creating problems in this country are the leaders who are no longer in power and cannot control their children and cronies”

    He therefore called on civil societies and media organizations to drive the needed change stressing on the need to stop the rhetoric and move things.

    The 2019 female Governorship aspirant in Oyo state, Mrs Bolanle Aliyu-Sarumi who spoke on ‘corruption against women in politics’ stressed that the lack of enabling environment caused people to sell their votes and also the current administration under President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to fulfil the 35% quota for women in its cabinet.

    Satguru Maharaj II in his own remarks stressed the need for divine and spiritual knowledge in solving the corruption and insecurity challenge facing the nation.

    READ ALSO: I’ve solution to end insecurity in Nigeria, says Olumba Olumba

    He said, “there is need to reconnect with the culture and tradition of the ancestors like it is being practiced holistically in other areas of the world.”

    He further advised the government to fund education properly, increase the entry salary of security agencies and also allow the creation of state police.

    Mr. Wahab Shittu stressed on the fact that insecurity and corruption are both threatening the survival of the country urging the government to deploy proactive measures and also look into the creation of state police as a deliberate effort to address local issues.

    An IT expert, Mr. Ahmed Ojikutu while giving examples of various technological strategies that can help curb criminal activities in the country, urged the government to employ the use of technology to fight the insecurity challenges facing the nation.

    The Inspector-general of police who was ably represented by DCP Okwa Effiong-Etim in his keynote speech reiterated that the security of the nation is a collective responsibility and not for the police force alone.

    Mr. Martins Oloja, Editorial board member of the Guardian newspaper, stressed on the fact that corruption and insecurity has made the nation missed so many opportunities in advancing further.

  • Wike seeks creation of state police

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has called for the establishment of state police to fight insecurity in the country.

    Wike spoke on Wednesday when the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Ms. Agnes Callamard, visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, the creation of state police would help to resolve the current insecurity bedevilling the country. He stressed that the present security structure makes it difficult for the Federal Police to respond quickly to security challenges.

    He said: “We believe that there should be state police for us to effectively fight crime in the country. Our system is fashioned towards the United States, which has Federal, State and Local Police. Each of them has their responsibilities. In the present situation, if a crime is committed, the Commissioner of Police will first report to the Inspector General of Police, before taking any action.”

    Read Also: Rivers did not demolish any mosque, says Wike

    Wike told the delegation that the government established the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency to support security agencies with information, but the agency was frustrated for political reasons.

    “We established the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency which would have helped the security agencies with information, but it was politicised by the Federal Government when they sent the Army to ensure that it did not come to fruition.

    “If the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency was allowed, probably we would have solved part of the security problems,” he added.

    Governor Wike reiterated that if the amended Electoral Act had been assented to by the President, electoral violence would have been reduced to the barest minimum, as there wouldn’t have been any incentive to snatch materials and manipulate the electoral process.

    He berated the Army for perpetuating violence during the 2019 elections, saying the negative action of the Army was such that several embassies were shocked.

    Ms. Callamard said she is interested in documenting the nature and extent of killings by state and non-state actors. “I am interested on how the Federal and state governments respond to the challenges of violence by state and non-state actors. I would be grateful if you will share with us, information on killings by the state and non-state actors,” she said.

  • Nigerians’ shops attacked in South Africa

    Nigerians resident in South Africa have been advised to avoid the Pretoria Central Business District (CBD) until the Police authorities certify the area safe for foreign nationals.

    The Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) gave the counsel in the wake of xenophobic attacks early yesterday following the torching of a shop belonging to a Nigerian in the business district.

    NUSA’s warning came on a day South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said that his administration was upset about the protracted killings of Nigerians in the former apartheid enclave.

    Ramaphosa spoke in Yokohama, Japan, after holding a bilateral talk with President Muhammadu Buhari on the sidelines of the ongoing seventh Tokyo International Conference for Africa Development (TICAD7) in Yokohama, Japan.

    According to him, the trend had necessitated the call for a meeting of the leaders of both countries on how to promptly nip the matter in the bud.

    In a statement yesterday, NUSA’s President, Adetola Olubajo said: “Violent looting and burning of foreign-owned businesses started in the early hours of today, Aug. 28, at the Pretoria CBD. The foreign-owned shops and offices were targeted by angry taxi driver rioters.

    “The violent revolt and looting have been fueled by the death of a taxi driver allegedly by Tanzania nationals on Tuesday at Pretoria CBD.

    “Not less than two buildings were burnt by the angry mob. This was done after the stocks in the various shops were looted by the rioters.

    Read Also: Buhari, South Africa President to meet over xenophobic attacks

    “The situation was very volatile this morning but the joint efforts of South African Metro Police and South African Police Service members helped to curb the violent looting and attacks, although the situation is still tensed at the area as several roads were blocked for motorists.’’

    According to him, only two Nigerian-owned businesses were identified to be affected when he issued the statement. The affected stores were identified as Furniture/Electronics shop on Sisulu Street and Gold Exchange Business on Lillan Ngoyi Street. They were looted before being set ablaze by the rioters.

    He said: “Information reaching us is that some foreign-owned businesses have been marked to be attacked over the night.

    “The marked foreign-owned businesses include a Nigerian-owned Private Clinic, Nigerian-owned Motor spares shop and a Nigerian Church among others.

    “The Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria has been informed of the planned overnight attacks and looting of foreign nationals businesses.”

    Ten suspects have been arrested for possession of suspected stolen items, while an additional seven have been arrested for public violence, the statement added.

    Over the years, Nigerians in South Africa have become victims of xenophobic killings by citizens of their host countries who often unjustifiably accuse them of robbing them of job opportunities in their own countries.

    The killings prompted some Nigerian students to recently stage a range of protests at the premises of some companies linked to South Africans, threatening to shut them down if the killings of their fellow citizens in South Africa do not stop.

    Ramaphosa said his country’s justice system had already taken up the matter.

    He said he was not in support of the killings, and insisted that there was no justifiable reason for anybody to be killed.

    He described the meeting he had with Buhari as a good forum for South Africa and Nigeria to renew the bond of unity between them and simultaneously share together issues of common interest in the overall interest of the African continent.

    Ramaphosa said: “Well, no, no, we are going to be discussing all that because we have very good relations. We’ll talk about the issue of Nigerians who are dying in South Africa. We feel very upset about that.

    “Obviously, our criminal justice system is working on it. We don’t support killings. Nobody should ever be killed, but it’s also good to use this opportunity here in Japan to renew the bond between us, to talk about common things between South Africa and Nigeria. We know we have to play key roles in the overall development of the continent.”

  • We shut Benin border over rice smuggling, says Buhari

    Massive smuggling of rice across the western border is responsible for its partial closure, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday.

    The President added that he would meet with presidents of neighbouring Benin and Niger on how to stop smuggling.

    The closure is also to allow Nigeria’s security forces develop a strategy on how to halt the dangerous trend with its negative impact on the government’s economic programme.

    This was the first time the reason for the closure of the Seme border near Badagry in Lagos State, was given since the commencement of exercise, ‘Ex-Swift Response, jointly conducted by the Customs, Immigration, police and military personnel and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser. It is meant to last 28 days.

    The partial closure is simultaneously ongoing in Nigeria’s border in three other geo-political zones.

    President Buhari gave the reasons during an audience with Beninois leader Patrice Talon on the margins of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD7), in Yokohama, Japan.

    Read Also: Lawmaker calls for calm as residents groan over joint border security exercise

    President’s spokesman Femi Adesina, in a statement said President Buhari expressed great concern over rice smuggling.

    The president said the activities of the smugglers threatened the self-sufficiency already attained due to his administration’s agricultural policies.

    “Now that our people in the rural areas are going back to their farms, and the country has saved huge sums of money which would otherwise have been expended on importing rice using our scarce foreign reserves.

    “We cannot allow smuggling of the product at such alarming proportions to continue,” he said.

    Responding to the concerns raised by President Talon on the magnitude of suffering caused by the closure, President Buhari said he had taken note and would reconsider reopening it in the not too distant future.

    He explained that a meeting with his counterparts from Benin and Niger Republics would soon be called to determine strict and comprehensive measures to curtail the level of smuggling across their borders.

    The volume of rice import from Thailand in 2015 by Nigeria was 1.8 metric tons.

    It came down to zero metric tons in 2017 when the Federal Government banned the importation of the staple food item to boost local production.

    The action triggered a phenomenal rise in the importation of the product in neighbouring Benin Republic and Cameroon.

    As a result of the smuggling and acts of sabotage by some unpatriotic elements within the security agencies, the tons of rice imported by the neighbouring countries found their way into local markets in Nigeria.

    The development is threatening the gains achieved by the Buhari administration in local rice production.

    To promote the consumption of locally-produced food items, the President recently ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to block importers of food items from accessing any of the government windows for foreign exchange (forex).

    President Talon said he called on the Nigerian President as a result of the severe impact the closure of the Nigerian border was having on his people.