Author: The Nation

Police in Lagos State have arrested one person in connection with the clash that happened on Friday at Oyingbo area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

Hundeyin said that the fracas by some suspected street urchins was brought under control by Rapid Respond Squad (RRS), led by CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi and men from the Denton Police Division.

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“One suspect, aged 40, (name withheld) of Cole Street, Ebutte Metta was arrested. We don’t have report of any death in the clash.

“Several bags of assorted hard drugs were also recovered,” he said.

The spokesman said that patrol teams had been stationed around the area, while investigations were on to arrest the rest of the miscreants.

He said that the suspect and exhibits would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for investigation. (NAN)

Following the increase in the pump price of petrol, some federal and state civil servants have appealed to both governments to increase workers salaries to reduce their hardships.

The workers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Friday in Katsina, said the appeal was necessary because prices of goods and transportation had also skyrocketed.

Malam Abdullahi Balarabe, a Federal Government worker in Katsina, said that following the hike in fuel price, prices of goods had also doubled.

Balarabe said what he normally bought for N200 was now being sold for between N300 and N400, adding that this was constituting a serious challenge to low earning civil servants.

“As you know, despite the increase in the pump price of fuel and the increase in the prices of foodstuffs and other goods, our salaries have remained the same.

“Before the current increase in prices, the salaries of many of us could not even sustain us to the next salary day. Some of us spend our salaries on payment of credits,” he said.

Mr Edwin Michael, also a federal civil servant, said that he had to park his vehicle to walk to office because some of the fuel stations sold petrol for more than N184 a litre.

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“We are appealing to the Federal Government to do everything possible to increase workers salaries to cover the deficit in our monthly take-home.

“If I now go to the market with my salary I don’t think it will be enough for me to buy what I used to buy before the current increase in the prices of goods,“ he said.

Also, Malam Adamu Ibrahim, a state civil servant, said that the situation was beyond description, adding that only God could intervene.

He said that his salary as an office assistant could hardly sustain him for the month.

Ibrahim also called on the state government to increase the salaries of its workers, especially those at the lower grades.

A visit by NAN to the Katsina Central Market showed that traders had increased the prices of foodstuffs and other goods.

Malam Isma’il Garba, one of the traders, said the increase in the prices of goods was due to a hike in transport fare.

NAN reports that a litre of fuel now sells for between N184 and N220 in petrol stations in the state. (NAN)

The National Agency for Prohibition of Traffick in persons (NAPTIP) in collaboration with partners, said it had deepened its commitment to end cases of child labour, abuse and trafficking for sexual exploitation in the state.

The Head of the agency in the state, Mrs Bertha Offor, disclosed this on Saturday at the 2022 edition of World Day Against Human Trafficking.

Offor revealed that the event was commemorated every July 30 and the theme for the year was “the use and abuse of technology”.

She said that the agency was collaborating with Facebook to track perpetrators of such crime.

According to her, technology had helped in the fight against human trafficking and should be encouraged to better the society.

“Perpetrators used this medium to track their victims through recruitments, sexual exploitation and other evil crimes.

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“So we say, no to human trafficking, child labour, and abuse in the state,” Offor said.

She, however, solicited for collaboration of the media to ensure optimal result in the fight, through sensitisation to prevent it from the grassroots.

The Attorney General of the state, Barr. Cletus Ofoke said laws, policies and enabling environment were put in place to encourage actors on issues of Gender-Based Violence and human trafficking.

Ofoke, also Chairman of Taskforce on Human Trafficking in the state, was represented by Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, State Coordinator, Gender Based Volence (GBV) Taskforce, maintained that perpetrators of this and human traffickers must be brought to book.

Laurette Nwafor, State Coordinator, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour in the state, maintained that through network approach, the aim would be achieved.

Nwafor added that the strategy would also ensure the menace was eradicated in the society.

“We are networking with CSOs working with human trafficking issues.

”We have offices almost in all the cimmunities of the state.

“We have vanguards, community champions and volunteers at the grassroots,” Nwafor said. (NAN)

The Presidential flag-bearer of Labour Party, Peter Obi and other dignitaries on Friday night joined other worshippers as Dr Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor, Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja led the congregation to pray for peace and security of the country.

Thousands of worshippers had thronged the church for its Mid-Year Praise and Worship Night, to seek the face of God over the state of security and other challenges facing the country.

Enenche, while praying for the nation, said that Nigeria was at war with the forces of hell and prayer was a potent weapon to defeat them.

Reading from the book of Numbers 10:9-10, he prayed for the rebirth of the nation and a new Nigeria and prayed that the nation would not go down.

The pastor urged Christians to continue to pray for the peace of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the church auditorium known as ‘Glory Sanctuary’ over 100,000 capacity was filled to the brim.

The church programme, which is a special praise and worship night tagged, “Judgmental Praise” drew gospel music ministers from across Nigeria and beyond.

Among the gospel artists that attended include Nathaniel Bassey, Chioma Jesus, Buchi, Frank Edward, Mercy Chinwo, Owie Abutu, Dusin Oyekan and many in-house music ministers.

Enenche and his family also ministered in songs as well as the Lords Trumpeter.

The major highlight of the programme was intermittent prayer for the nation and praise and worship to God.

Notable among personalities in attendance are Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Wife of Delta Governor, Mrs Edith Okowa and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

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A South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Thami Mseleku amongst others.

NAN observed that the church maintained a security system that carried out thorough checks on both vehicles and pedestrians entering the premises.

There were layers of security checks from the gate while the main entrance of the auditorium have two baggage scanners where all bags were screened.

Some worshippers who spoke with NAN alluded their decision to come for the night event to their belief that God is the ultimate protector of man.

A worshipper, Mr Mike Johnson, said he did not expect people to turn out for the church programme because of the fear of insecurity in FCT in recent times.

He said he refused to give in to fear and believed that no evil could triumph in the presence of God.

”Yes there is tension in the city and many people are afraid but the children of God should not be afraid of evil because fear is the greatest enemy of man,” he said.

Another congregant, Mrs Comfort Onjeh, said that she never at any point entertain such fear of insecurity while planning to attend the programme.

Onjeh urged Christians to pray more instead of being afraid of what the enemies of the country were doing.

She urged the government and the security agencies to do their best in addressing the situation so that citizens could feel safe and move freely.

 

(NAN)