The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Taskforce nabs five armed suspected land grabbers

    Taskforce nabs five armed suspected land grabbers

    The Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Taskforce has arrested five alleged armed land grabbers said to have terrorized property owners in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.

    The suspects were arrested at the weekend during an operation to dislodge the allegedly notorious syndicate said to have caused mayhem and disrupted developmental activities within Sango-Tedo, Lakowe, Abijo and other communities in Ibeju-Lekki.

    Taskforce Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, in a statement by spokesman, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the Omo-Onile, as they are known, have been appealed to and warned several times to desist from carrying out their inhumane acts but they failed to listen.

    “Residents and victims of these land grabbers have laid series of complaints to the Taskforce which made us carry out our own investigation leading to warnings being issued to them.

    “It is quite unfortunate that they feel untouchable and daring but with this actions carried out by us they will learn to obey the laws of the State. There is no room for land grabbers in Lagos” he stated.

    Jejeloye, Abdulraheem said, disclosed that the land grabbers opened fire on his men during the operation to discourage them but were resisted by the operatives who were determined to correct the wrongs carried out by the criminals.

    “It was quite appalling that even women were amongst the individuals arrested and guns, charms and harmful weapons which they use to intimidate their victims were recovered from them.

    “They will be made to face the full wrath of the law and we will ensure that anyone found engaging in such a nefarious practice anywhere in the state is arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

    Read Also:BREAKING: illegal task force officials arrested for disrupting NLC protest

    Abdulraheem said Jejeloye urged residents to resist the urge to pay land grabbers for properties which were legitimately purchased.

    He said they should rather report incidents or activities by the land grabbers to the agency for urgent action.

    The five suspects have been charged to court and remanded in Badagry correctional centre, he added.

  • I saw my Headies nomination coming, says Lojay

    I saw my Headies nomination coming, says Lojay

    Headies nominated next-rated artist, Lojay has said that he wasn’t surprised at his next rated award nomination by the 15th Headies award.

    The superstar told The Nation in an exclusive interview in Qatar during his trip to the United States of America for the Headies award scheduled to hold on the 4th of September.

    Read Also:What you need to know about 15th Headies awards

    He described the nomination as one which was well deserved.

    Lojay whose hit song ‘Monalisa’ later got a feature with American superstar Chris Brown was nominated alongside BNXN, Arya Starr, Zinoleesky and Ruger.

  • Activist-lawyers to unveil digital rights judgments book Tuesday

    Activist-lawyers to unveil digital rights judgments book Tuesday

    The Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (DRLI) will on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 unveil its compilation of reviews of digital rights judgments as delivered by Nigerian courts in the last few years.

    The publication is titled “Digital Rights in Nigeria: Through The Cases”.

    According to Irene Chukwukelu, DRLI’s Legal Officer, “the work which includes cases on Data Protection & Privacy, Digital Identity, Online Expressions, Media Freedom and Right to Online Expressions is indeed a lucid compilation of some major decisions on the foregoing subjects by the Nigerian courts.”

    Miss Chukwukelu added that the book is “a practitioners’ review of the various decisions along the line of their facts, judicial reasoning and the contributors’ comments on the propriety or otherwise of the decisions”.

    The compilation is the second part of a project titled Deepening Digital Rights in Nigeria (DEDRIN) which is generously supported by Luminate.

    The unveiling ceremony which is scheduled to hold on Tuesday September 6, 2022 virtually, parades some of the brightest industry experts and critical stakeholders in the digital rights ecosystem.

    Disscussants of the theme of the unveiling ceremony which is “Digital Rights Jurisprudence in Nigeria: The Gains and Drawbacks” include Justice Adegbola Adeniyi of the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, Dr Ifeoma E. Nwafor, Law lecturer at Godfrey Okoye University, who is the Book Reviewer and Mr Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative as the Keynote Speaker.

    They will be joined by Dr Monday Ubani, Princpal, Ubani & CO., Gloria Ballason, Principal Partner, MIVE Legals and Nkem Isiakpona, Associate at Templars.

    Read Also:Alleged contempt: Lawyers caution NERC on BEDC takeover bid

    The event will be moderated by Solomon Okedara, Co-Founder, Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative.

    DRLI said it is committed to make copies of the book available to critical stakeholders in the digital rights ecosystem including but not limited to lawyers, judges, government institutions, higher institutions of learning and research centres and NGOs with a view to deepening knowledge of digital rights in Nigeria.

    The non-governmental organisation which promotes and protection of digital rights of the citizens is reputed as the foremost organisation litigating on digital rights issues across Nigeria including but not limited to Data Protection and Privacy, Digital Identity, Online Expressions, Access to Information, Right to own Digital Assets, among others.

  • Sokoto has highest dropout rate in childhood vaccination – FG Report

    Sokoto has highest dropout rate in childhood vaccination – FG Report

    Unless something is done quickly, many children in Sokoto State may die or become physically challenged because of infections from childhood diseases like measles, hepatitis B, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases, according to data from a Federal Government report.

    The data is from the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS) recently launched by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners.

    It shows that Sokoto State has the highest dropout rate for childhood vaccination in the country, that is, the percentage of children aged 12 to 23 months who received one dose in the vaccination schedule but failed to receive a later dose.

    The report noted that substantially more children are fully vaccinated in the southern zones compared to northern zones.

    It stated that the benefits of vaccines are fully realised when children receive all recommended vaccine doses on time.

    The typical vaccination schedule for children in Nigeria includes BCG (tuberculosis), HepB (hepatitis B), OPV (poliomyelitis), PENTA (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis [whooping cough], hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b), PCV (pneumococcal infection), ROTA (rotavirus), IPV (poliomyelitis), measles, vitamin A, yellow fever, and meningitis.

    According to the report, while the national average for percentage of children between 12 to 23 months who failed to received OPV3, DTP-HepB-Hib3, measles 1 and measles 2, were 30.2 per cent, 20.6 per cent, 18.5 per cent and 22 per cent respectively, the situation in Sokoto State is double of the national average.

    In Sokoto State, 50.8 per cent of children failed to receive OPV3; 52.8 per cent failed to receive DTP-HepB-Hib3; 44.4 per cent failed to receive measles 1; while 50 per cent failed to receive measles 2.

    Read Also:Sokoto APC ward executives, supporters defect to PDP

    Although Zamfara State fared better than Sokoto in measles vaccination schedules, it however, recorded the highest vaccination dropout rate in OPV3, and second highest dropout in DTP-HepB-Hib3.

    The report further noted that while at the national level 18 per cent of children between 12 to 23 months did not receive any vaccinations (which is a decrease of 55 per cent from five years ago), 51 per cent of children in Sokoto State remain unvaccinated.

    Ebonyi is the only state in Nigeria where all the children have received vaccinations against childhood diseases, followed by Enugu State.

  • Missing TESCOM Director found dead

    Missing TESCOM Director found dead

    A Director in the Ondo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mr. Gbenga Olofingboyegun, who was declared missing last Thursday, has been found dead.

    His mutilated body was found on Sunday at Saint Theresa Primary School beside Saint Peter’s Unity School in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    Late Olofingboyegun was the Director of the Department of Research and Statistics.

    He was said to have left his office for undisclosed reasons the last time he was seen

    His family and friends were said to have suspected that he was kidnapped.

    They were said to have been waiting for calls from his abductors for negotiation of ransom payment until his decomposing body was found.

    Read Also:Ongoing staff screening not targeted at any religion,Oyo TESCOM clarifies

    Olofingboyegun’s head was reportedly severed and not found while his stomach was torn open by his suspected assailants.

    Those that saw his corpse said he was still in the suits and tie he wore to the office the day he disappeared.

    Ondo Police spokesman, SP Fumilayo Odunlami, said the identity of the decomposing body was yet to be ascertained.

  • Suspected stowaway arrested at Lagos Airport

    Suspected stowaway arrested at Lagos Airport

    A suspected stowaway was found on Sunday in a United Nigeria aircraft parked at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) at the Lagos Airport.

    The middle-aged man, who looked unkempt and was barely conscious, was arrested and taken in for interrogation.

    Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, Head, Corporate Communications, United Nigeria said FAAN AVSEC and Bi- Courtney Aviation Security Services had commenced an investigation of the security breach.

    “The aircraft last operated Abuja-Lagos at 7.30pm on September 3, 2022, and was securely parked at the apron following post-flight inspection”.

    Read Also:Lagos exits 5th Covid-19 wave 

    “The affected aircraft is being screened and prepared for service in accordance with United Nigeria Airlines’ strict security and operating standards”.

    He disclosed that the development will result in the rescheduling of some flights to accommodate the investigations.

    “We regret the delay this incident will cause our esteemed customers whose scheduled flight will be affected. United Nigeria Airlines remains absolutely committed to your safety at all times.”

  • Gunmen kill NSCDC officer, abduct travelers in Ekiti

    Gunmen kill NSCDC officer, abduct travelers in Ekiti

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Saturday evening killed an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Segun Ayebulu while he was traveling along Oke Ako-Irele road in Ekiti State.

    The attackers also abducted three persons after shooting the NSCDC officer and whisked them to an unknown destination, which fueled insinuation that the perpetrators were kidnappers.

    Irele Ekiti located in Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, is a border town between Ekiti and Kwara states.

    The Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Tolu Afolabi, confirmed that the man was traveling to his town in Ogbe, Yagba West Local Government area of Kogi State, when his vehicle was attacked by these gunmen.

    “I can confirm to you that we lost one of our operatives on Saturday to some gunmen who fired gunshots at his vehicle while he was traveling to his Ogbe countryhome in Kogi State.

    “We can also confirm to you that other occupants of the vehicle were also abducted, but I can’t confirm to you their exact number as I speak with you. We are still Investigating and we will release the comprehensive report to the public when it is ready.

    “The deceased’s corpse has been deposited in the morgue in one of the hospitals in Ekiti here”.

    The NSCDC spokesman confirmed that his men and officers in collaboration with the police and local hunters have started combing the sprawling forest between Kwara and Ekiti border with the intent to arrest the perpetrators.

    Read Also:Gunmen kill hotelier, three others in Ebonyi, Plateau

    A prominent politician from the area, who craved anonymity, recounted to journalists on Sunday via telephone that the incident occured between 6.30 and 7pm on Saturday.

    The source told newsmen that three other occupants of the vehicle conveying the deceased were kidnapped at gunpoint to an unknown location

    He said the gunmen shot sporadically to stop the vehicle and the victim was said to have been hit on the head and chest by bullets when the driver tried to escape the scene.

    The source revealed that some farmers that were returning from their farms to Oke -Ako, abandoned their bicycles and motorbikes and fled into the bush upon hearing the gunshots.

    He said: “It was a sad event. One of the farmers confirmed to me that the gunmen hid beside the bush along that route and opened fire on the vehicle while trying to stop them.

    “He also disclosed that the driver tried to escape; it was at that moment that the gunmen shot directly at the car and hit the NSCDC officer in the head and chest.

    “Three other occupants of the vehicles were also dragged out of the vehicle and taken straight into the bush. This is the information we got from some farmers who hid inside the bush and watched the scene as it happened”.

  • Undefeated Spurs beat Fulham 2-1

    Undefeated Spurs beat Fulham 2-1

    Tottenham maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they beat Fulham with goals from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Kane.

    A late strike from Fulham’s star man Alexander Mitrovic made for a nervy final 10 minutes as Marco Silva’s side suffered a second loss of the season.

    Spurs threatened to score virtually every time they came forward and had ample opportunity to extend their lead further, firing off 23 shots, 10 of which were on target.

    However, it was thanks to former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno and a resolute Fulham defence that they were held to just two goals.

    Hojbjerg’s slotted finish into the bottom corner after some nifty passing in Fulham’s box opened the scoring, before Kane headed home to double their lead after 75 minutes.

    Fulham had been completely unable to get in the game for the majority of the 90 minutes with Mitrovic’s threat nullified until his 83rd minute goal – his sixth of the season.

    Richarlison, making his first start for Spurs since joining from Everton in the summer, looked lively and had a goal chalked off for offside in the final minutes of the match.

    Deadline-day signings Willian and Dan James made their debuts for the Cottagers but struggled to impact the game.

    BBC

  • Everton, Liverpool in hard-fought goalless draw

    Everton, Liverpool in hard-fought goalless draw

    Everton and Liverpool fought out an eventful Merseyside derby draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

    In a game that swung from end to end, Tom Davies hit the woodwork for Everton while Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz suffered a similar fate for Liverpool.

    Everton keeper Jordan Pickford turned Nunez’s shot on to the bar brilliantly and also denied Liverpool substitute Roberto Firmino on three separate occasions while Mohamed Salah hit the post again in the final seconds.

    Read Also:Liverpool sign Juventus Arthur Melo on loan

    Former Liverpool defender Conor Coady thought he had broken the deadlock against his former club when he turned in debutant Neal Maupay’s shot but the goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR intervention.

    As well as Coady’s disallowed goal, Everton forced two outstanding saves from Liverpool keeper Alisson as he denied Maupay and Dwight McNeil, whose shot was deflected towards the top corner.

    BBC

  • Chelsea in dramatic 2-1 win over West Ham

    Chelsea in dramatic 2-1 win over West Ham

    Kai Havertz scored a late winner as Chelsea came from behind to record a dramatic victory over West Ham.

    The Blues’ joy was, however, temporarily cut short by a 90th-minute Maxwel Cornet equaliser which was then ruled out by the referee.

    The Hammers frustrated Chelsea in a first half that saw plenty of home possession but no shots on target for either side, and looked to have executed their gameplan to perfection when Michail Antonio scored from a rare attack after 62 minutes.

    The forward bundled in from close range after Blues goalkeeper Edouard Mendy failed to deal with a corner, but the visitors’ lead was wiped out 14 minutes later.

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    Chelsea, on the back of a record summer of spending and with £70m arrival Wesley Fofana making his debut, had struggled to break down David Moyes’ side before Ben Chilwell snuck in to level from a tight angle shortly after coming off the bench.

    It sparked a frantic finish, with Cornet almost winning it late on for the visitors, only to see his header come back off the post and the Blues immediately score themselves through a clinical Havertz header from Chilwell’s cross.

    There was still time for more drama as Cornet pounced, but only after a foul on Mendy that was awarded once referee Andrew Madley consulted the pitchside monitor.

    It gives Chelsea their third win of the season and lifts the Blues to fifth, while West Ham sit 18th.

    BBC