The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Two injured as bus somersaults

    Two injured as bus somersaults

    A green and white Faragon bus with registration number SW35EPE on Sunday  somersaulted at the Adekunle axis of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.

    The Nation learnt that the accident, which occurred around 2:30 PM was caused by a flat tyre.

    According to an eyewitness, one of the back tyres went flat in motion which caused the bus to somersault.

    “They were rescued by officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) before the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials arrived the scene. The contents of the bus were said to be China plates and small chops,” he said.

    Another eyewitness said two persons were injured.

    The Nation also learnt that the accident caused traffic snarl forcing some drivers to take one-way and  obstruct oncoming vehicles. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives were deployed to restore order.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday, LASTMA Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Mahmud Hassan urged road users to adhere to safety measures.

    He said: “The normal precautionary measures they should have taken is to check their tyres at the right time, gauge their tyres to ensure they are working properly. They should also not overspeed. If drivers keep to all the safety measures, these kinds of accidents are avoidable.”

    He also urged other road users not to obstruct traffic in the instance of a future occurrence.

    “Those who have nothing to do at the scene of the accident, especially in the area of assistance, should keep moving so as not to complicate the flow of traffic. They should also get in touch with relevant agencies that are positioned to perform emergency services”, he said.

  • Herbalist ‘dupes’ businesswoman of N7.5m

    •Victim also ‘raped’

    THE police have arrested a 45-year-old herbalist, Ifatade Ademola, for allegedly raping a businesswoman and duping her of N7.5 million.

    The suspect was arrested after his victim, who claimed she was hypnotised, raped and defrauded of N7.5 million between 2011 and 2014, reported the matter to the police.

    He was said to have used the money to build two bungalows in Lagos and Ado Ekiti. He also bought two vehicles. The vehicles have been seized by the police.

    According to the 31-year-old victim, the suspect told her she was being hunted by spirit husband and needed spiritual cleansing so that she can get married.

    The suspect was said to have posed as a cab driver and taken the victim’s mother, an international businesswoman, from Iyana Ipaja bus stop to their residence.

    In his discussions with the woman, he was said to have advertised his other businesses which include supplying domestic workers and spiritual cleansing.

    According to the victim, Ademola wormed himself into her mother’s heart after telling the old woman that all her children have been programmed to die untimely, using one of her late children as an example.

    The victim claimed that when the suspect saw that the charm he used on her was no longer working, he conspired with two other men to rape her in his shrine.

    She alleged that she became traumatised and psychologically unstable for about a year, adding that she decided to fight for justice after being treated by her family.

    “I am a young woman and into oil and gas business. This issue started after the suspect carried my mother one night at Iyana Ipaja and brought her home.

    “In the course of their discussion, he told my mother that he was an herbalist and has his shrine around Olode in Iyana Ipaja. He also told my mother that he can supply sales rep from Ekiti State, since the Cotonou people she usually employed have gone.

    “That was how they exchanged numbers and before long, he started telling my mother some very private things in my family and that all her children will die untimely if nothing was done. He told her that through spiritual findings, he saw that she lost her first child at the age of 33.

    “He also told her that day that I was having spirit husband problem and that it needed to be taken care of urgently.

    “My mother was afraid and told me of it. He now gave us the address and description of the shrine. My mother insisted that I should escort her to the place because she did not want to go alone.

    “He started spiritual consultation and again, he started saying things about me and my business and that people were after my life. He said that spiritual husband was the reason why I was not yet married.

    “The man said I will need to go and bath in a stream at Command Road Ipaja, beside a white garment church. That once I do that, the spirit husband will leave me alone.

    “I went there and paid N100. He was already there with some other people. He gave me three sponges to use and bath.

    “I used the first and second one nothing happened. But when I was about using the third one, it sparked fire. After the fire, I heard a woman’s voice calling my name and telling me things about my life and how some people were after me.

    “I screamed and ran out naked, then he came and calmed me down and that day, they told me to deposit N500,000 for the cleansing. Between March and June 2011, he has collected N1.8million from me.

    “They told me to not tell anyone, not even my mother what was going on, or I will die. Then, I travelled and when I came back, they continued to collect money from me until I started asking questions, then him and two others raped me at the shrine.

    “I was under a spell. He is an occultic man and he uses charm on people. I became mentally unstable for almost one year, it was after I recovered that I said I must fight for my right,” he said.

    However, the suspect denied collecting any money from the victim, insisting that he only assisted her in spiritual work.

    He claimed that the victim approached him to help her get a husband, adding that being a herbalist who treats all kinds of diseases and problems, he decided to assist her.

    The command’s spokesperson, Oladapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the police swung into action after the victim petitioned the commissioner.

    She said investigations were still on to arrest the others, warning Lagosians to be wary of those they associate with.

    Badmus said the suspect was not a registered cab driver, adding that he would be charged to court after investigation.

     

  • One held for suspected killer-cop’s death

    One held for suspected killer-cop’s death

    One person has been arrested in connection with Sunday’s killing of a policeman, Sunday David, in Agege, Lagos.

    The suspect is the brother of one of those allegedly killed by David. He was arrested when he went to lodge a complaint at the Elere Police Station.

    David was killed by a mob after he allegedly shot dead two men, Segun and Raheem Sulaiman while trying to save his friend, Taiwo Balogun, a suspected fraudster, from their hands.

    At the time of this report, the police were yet to ascertain the cause of the incident.

    But The Nation gathered that it all started after some street boys, who were playing football near a beer parlour where Balogun was drinking, demanded money from him.

    But the boys were not happy with what he gave them and demanded for more.

    Balogun became apprehensive and telephoned the late David, who rushed to the scene and opened fire, killing Segun and Sulaimon.

    After the incident, the street boys went into hiding.

    When The Nation visited Amoo Street at Orile Agege yesterday, angry youths, smoking Indian hemp, were seen in groups, discussing the incident in hushed tones.

    The boys claimed that the late police corporal got what he deserved for always being too arrogant.

    It was gathered that the late policeman, always threatened residents with guns each time there was a crisis.

    “The police need to investigate the activities of that guy.  There are so many things he used to do. He was always so proud and arrogant. He will drink and after drinking, he will be threatening people with guns.

    “It won’t be a surprise if he was the one sending his guys to defraud people. He has guys who do private security jobs for him and most of those guys are criminals.

    “What was he doing with a fully loaded AK47 rifle in his boot? How come he had two fully loaded guns with him? The police need to do their investigation very well to know who really is the criminal in this matter,” a source said.

    Although some initially claimed that the late Corporal might have shot himself to avoid summary dismissal, a police source said he was shot from the back, adding that the bullet hit his forehead and his neck.

    The source also debunked claim that two of the late David’s friends were killed inside his car, stating that there were no other blood stains, in the vehicle.

    Outgoing command’s spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigations were ongoing to ascertain the cause of the incident.

    “We do not know what really happened yet. The police are still investigating. I do not want to tell you hearsay. There are so many stories going round town on the matter. We do not know the true story and that is why the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID) has been directed to unravel the circumstances that led to the deaths.

    ‘‘Elere Police Station got the information that a man was lying death inside his car. Upon getting there, it was discovered that it was a Police Corporal attached to SARS. His service rifle and other documents were intact,” said Offor, who will handover to his incoming successor,  Oladapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police (SP), today.

     

  • 800 struggle for 600 shops at new Oshodi Market

    EIGHT HUNDRED traders from the demolished Owonifari Market yesterday stormed the Oshodi Resettlement Market for space.

    The market, which can only accommodate 571 traders, is under a new management, Pariboz Asset and facility managers.

    Last week, the traders rejected the government’s plan to relocate them to the market, claiming that it is structurally “instable.”

    The traders were sighted on queue at the market yesterday waiting to process their application forms.

    It was learnt that the price of the shop forced the traders to change their minds. The government last week fixed the monthly rent for N5, 000 per shop.

    They will not pay the rent yearly, but quarterly. This, it was learnt, attracted the traders.

    “The government has made the allocation process easy for traders and the shops attract a N5,000 monthly rent,” said Adeniyi Olushola, manager, Pariboz Asset and Facility.

    “The governor has made the market very conducive and he has informed them to come. We started giving out forms last Friday and we have given over 500 forms. The forms will be treated based on first come first serve. If the necessary requirement is submitted, the process will commence. The state and local government are ready to take care of their people; so anyone who hasn’t secured a space is free to come for the form. It is free.”

    A trader, Victor Nsong, who was yet to collect form, said: “I am still contemplating on staying in Oshodi or to relocate to another area. I returned last Thursday after the demolition and since then, everything to me seems meaningless. I haven’t collected my form because I don’t want to be given a place I wouldn’t like.

    “I am really scared of getting a shop on the first or second floor because sales will be very dull. If I am in, it won’t be easy to opt out. For instance, if I go into a market, I will never go to the first or second floor to patronise the traders. If I could get whatever I want on the ground floor, I am okay. I am at a crossroads.”

    Bukola Joseph said shops should be allotted to people based on what they sell, adding: “Everybody wants to be on the ground floor but it is not possible. I sell jewellery and I also would not want to have a shop on the first floor. I think the first and second floors would be good for those who trade in baby wares, bags and machines. I plead with those in charge to treat every form well to avoid enmity among traders.”

    Funmi Omoluwabi said she had no choice than to go for the new market because she couldn’t afford a shop at The Arena.

    She said: “Besides the money, I feel Arena is not good for me because I sell electronics and they don’t allow generator there. I just pray I get a good space here and also, I pray the amount won’t be increased because everyone rushed here for the amount and I pray the government sticks to this plan because most of us are not financially buoyant at the moment.”

     

  • Army condemns men for allegedly removing woman’s veil

    Army condemns men for allegedly removing woman’s veil

    •Muslim community protests
    •Ambode: hijab not banned in Lagos

    The Army on Sunday dissociated itself from the action of its men who allegedly removed the veil of a muslim woman in Lagos last Friday.

    The incident has sparked protests from the Muslim community, which is calling on the Presidency to make its stand known on the use of hijab.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode condemned the soldiers’ action, saying hijab is not banned in Lagos State.

    Army’s 81 Division 1 Public Relations Officer Col James Samuel said the military did not direct soldiers to harrass women in hijab.

    The army, Samuel said, was unaware of the incident.

    Two soldiers last Friday in Meiran, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos removed the woman’s veil, claiming that its use had been banned.

    Islamic organisations and clerics took to social media to condemn the action.

    According to an eyewitness, Adetutu Oluwa, the soldiers allegedly alighted from their vehicle on sighting a woman dressed in veil and started harassing her.

    One of them, she claimed, forcefully removed the veil, popularly referred to as Niqab, from the woman’s head and warned her never to use it in public again.

    “After removing the veil, one of the soldiers said: ‘This thing is not allowed in our country again. You can use it in your house.’  They both walked back to their vehicle with the veil,” Oluwa alleged.

    According to her, it took the intervention of passersby and sympathisers for the woman to get her veil back.

    “On sensing cold reaction from the people, the soldiers dropped the veil on the floor, entered their vehicle and zoomed off,” she said.

    Oluwa in a programme monitored on Star 101.5 FM on Saturday said: “I was traumatised by the situation even though I wasn’t the one harassed.”

    According to islamic organisations and scholars, the President’s statement on the possibility of banning hijab because many Boko Haram suicide bombers hide under it to wreak havoc, is being used as excuse to harass Islamic women nationwide.

    “Everything must be done to balance national security requirements with religious rights and obligations of citizens protected as enshrined in the constitution,” said Mallam Saheed Ashafa, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit president.

    A lawyer, Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, described the soldiers’ action as callous, saying: “It is easy to point fingers if you are not sacrificing or not being inconvenienced. Some sections are easy to clamour for the ban on hijab because they are not using it or they are looking for an excuse not to or they want everyone to be naked like them. Whichever is their wish or thought as the case may be, they need fresh orientation.”

    Lagos State University (LASU) lecturer Mrs Ganiya Adenle said: “When there is a fire, I don’t see fire fighters killing the smoke, they rather go to the base of the fire. The government should go to the root of Boko Haram, find out those behind it and stop killing the smoke of Boko Haram.”

    Dousing tension, Governor Ambode said hijab has not been banned in Lagos State.

    He spoke on Saturday during the inauguration of The Muslim Congress (TMC) Imams at TMC Dawah Centre in Ijeshatedo.

    Ambode said the government has not directed security operatives to go on such mission.

    The governor said: “I want to assure you that government does not know anything about what happened on Friday at Meiran. Lagos State has not banned hijab. The Federal government has not banned hijab and we are warning all security operatives to desist from all acts that can lead to religious tension.”

    Ambode appealed to the crowd to remain law-abiding and not to take the laws into its hands, promising to look into the case.

    “Nobody is above the law. Muslims should be free to practise their religion. Christians should feel free to practise their religion,” he said.

    Ambode, represented by Home Affairs Commissioner Dr Abdul Abdul Hakeem AbdulLateef, thanked the congress for its support during the last elections.

    “Personally, I don’t think that banning hijab is the solution to the menace of terrorism,” AbdulLateef said, adding: “Ever since journalism has been practised as a profession, there are journalists who have come out with articles and information capable of creating tension and derailing the government. No government has because of that banned journalism.

    “We cannot because of the excesses of some people begin to trample on the fundamental human rights of others.

    “It is good that all religious organisations are taking it on board. They are now using metal detectors to ensure nobody comes in with bomb. This is the message that all churches and mosques are taking on board.”

    The governor noted that religious leaders are critical stakeholders in the development of the state and the country.

    “We’ll not because of what is happening now violate our own constitution. We recognise the fact that section 38 of the constitution allows the freedom of religion either as individuals on in community with others to observe and propagate their religion. We will never allow any security officials to take the law into its hands.  This is our electoral promise to Lagosians,” Ambode said.

  • Three suspected robbers held

    Three suspected robbers held

    Three of the nine suspected ‘notorious’ armed robbers, who invaded Ibeshe beach at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos last December 26, have been arrested by the police.

    The Nation learnt that they dispossessed people of their phones, jewellery, cash and handbags.

    Operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) on patrol responded to distress calls and arrested the three.

    According to SARS, the suspects specialised in robbing bars and bar beaches.

    They are Chukwuemeka Ikpeazu of Babasha Street, Shibiri, Tajudeen Afeez of Kemo Street, Ojo and Fatai Adeokun of Osunba Street, Oto-Awori Ojo.

    Police said three locally made pistols and 12 cartridges were recovered from them.

    The suspects, The Nation, learnt had also allegedly robbed the occupant of Molusi Street in Surulere, Lagos Mainland.

    Ikpeazu said: “I am not the gang leader, the leader is Wasiu and he escaped with five others. He was the one that gave me this gun to follow them to rob at the beach. We robbed people in Ibeche beach and collected their phones and I was given one phone. We also robbed at Badagry side and my share was N30,000 cash. We robbed only the people drinking and having fun in the beach.

    Afeez, a cobbler, said: “I am not an armed robber. People in the Beach snapped me and told police that I was one of the robbers.”

    Adeokun said he was drinking in a bar at the beach when people pointed to him that he was one of the robbers “because they saw me in the picture they snapped.”

    “The truth is that two people got drowned in the river and when one of the bodies was brought out, I went there to take a look and I was among those they snapped,” he said.

    On why they were arrested, he said some robbers came to the beach, fired gun and robbed people, saying he and Afeez were not among them.

    When Chukwuemeka was asked whether he knows them, he said: “I don’t know them. They are not one of us. One of the people in the crowd saw their pictures in what they snapped and suspected them. Those who robbed with me have escaped. These two are innocent.”

  • RRS arrests 11 suspected hoodlums

    Eleven persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in armed robberies around the National Theatre and Ijora areas of Lagos.

    They are Friday Onuwa, 30; Moses Okiso, 25; Rashidi Olugbenjo, 19; Olalekan Adebayo, 21 and Sheriff  Sanusi, 27, Ganiu Sule, 30; Michael Thompson, 19; Wale Akindujoye, 30; Aderemi Adewale, 25; Adeshina Adetolu, 30 and Moshood Ajao, 45.

    The suspects were nabbed over the weekend by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Tunji Disu.

    Their arrest followed the attack in a woman, Adeola Sulaiman, whose handbag containing N250,000 was snatched by one of the suspects.

    It was gathered that RRS personnel who were close to the area, heard the woman screaming, chased and caught the suspect later identified as Friday Onuwa.

    While Onuwa was nabbed with the handbag, two of his gang members were said to have fled.

    He made statements that led to others’ arrest.

    Confessing to the crime, Onuwa said: “That fateful day, I and my friends, Kowasibe and Tallest, went to Costain opposite National Theatre with the intention to rob.

    “On reaching there, we saw a woman whom we robbed successfully. It was Kowasibe, who pointed gun at her before she released her belongings to us.”

    According to the police, the suspects have been transferred to the state Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.”

  • Mob kills police corporal over death of two persons

    Mob kills police corporal over death of two persons

    A mob yesterday shot dead Police Corporal Sunday David for allegedly killing two persons in Agege, Lagos.

    The mob killed Sunday, who was in mufti, as he tried to flee after his allegedly dastardly act.

    David, popularly known as Iku Sunday, who was attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud (SARS), was shot in the forehead and neck on Salawu Street, Orile-Agege.

    His assailants, it was learnt, caught up with him in traffic around Elere, pursued him up to Salawu Street and shot him.

    It was gathered that his blood was splattered on the seats of his newly bought Toyota Camry saloon car; the side glass and the open roof were shattered.

    A resident in the neighbourhood said the incident occurred around 3pm, adding that Sunday’s killers did not remove anything from him.

    She said the police found the corporal’s remains behind his steering with bullet wound on his neck.

    According to an eyewitness, the corporal had a pistol in his pocket, an AK47 rifle in his car’s boot, a gold necklace and cash, but they were not taken by his killers.

    It was gathered that Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives and officers from Elere Police Division, took his body to the Ikeja General Hospital morgue.

    “It was at the point of searching that the police realised he was one of their own. The man shot two people, one in the chest and the other in the neck.

    “He lives around here and they said he was running when those chasing him caught up with him in traffic and killed him.

    “We heard that nothing was taken from his car. The people he shot were rushed to the hospital but we later heard they died in the hospital,” she said.

    Another eyewitness told The Nation that the late policeman opened fire on the victims on a football pitch.

    A source said the late Sunday, who is survived by three children, is in trouble because of the guns found on him.

    According to the senior police officer, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has directed that policemen should never take guns home.

    The officer said investigations would show how the late corporal, who was yet to report to his new place of assignment at SARS Ikorodu, came about the guns.

    “It is a serious issue. He has been posted to Ikorodu for over one week now but he has not reported there. We are yet to know how he had two guns in his possession and what he was doing with them.

    “Just the fact that he had those guns means dismissal. Because the IGP has been warning since last year that no policeman should take weapons home after duty.

    “We cannot say it was armed robbery since his attackers did not take anything from him. He had two guns, a gold chain, and money bit none was touched.

    “They just killed him and ensured he was dead. I do not know the condition of the people he shot but I heard one died in the hospital,” said the police source.

    Police spokesman Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP), said one of the victims was responding to treatment. The other did not survive.

    According to Offor, the corporal was driving with his friend identified as Taiwo Balogun before they were shot by unknown assailants.

    “One Raheem Sulaiman of 18, Adeyinka Road, Orile Agege sustained gunshot wound on the neck.

    “Corpses of the dead have been deposited at the Mainland General Hospital for autopsy. The injured is receiving treatment at the Ikeja General Hospital.

    “Investigation is ongoing and the matter will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti,” he said.

     

  • Suspected cultist found dead

    A 25-year-old man identified as Daniel was yesterday found dead near the Ikota Market, Ogombo, Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area in Lagos.

    The deceased, a suspected cultist popularly known as Young T, was discovered at about 9am with violent marks on his leg.

    Police sources said the deceased who had “Gang Star” tattoo on his right hand may have been beaten by his assailants before he was killed.

    Confirming the death, police spokesman Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Lagos.

    Offor said the body had been deposited at a government hospital for autopsy.

     

  • ‘I have never robbed in my life’

    ‘I have never robbed in my life’

    Two commercial motorcyclists’ otherwise called Okada who specialised in snatching handbags from women in Lagos have been arrested by police.

    The suspects are John Okechukwu (19) from Olomohu village in Delta State and Olamide Oyebanjo (25) from Ilaje in Ondo State.

    According to police, the suspects on motion snatched a handbag from a woman but luck ran against them as the people chase, arrested and handed them over to police.

    Okechukwu said: “I am a commercial motorcycle rider and resides around Boundary in Ajegunle area of Lagos. This man (pointing at Olamide) called me and asked me to take him from Orile to Surulere. It was when I saw people chasing us and shouting thieves! Thieves!! that I knew something was wrong and all efforts to explain that I was not one of them fell on deaf ears.

    “I did not know that he wanted to use me to escape. Both of us were arrested at the spot. You can ask Olamide whether I am one of them. I have never robbed in my life. Both of us were arrested at Shitta area in Surulere near Bode Thomas. You can ask him whether I was telling you the truth.”

    Oyebanjo confirmed that John is a commercial motorcycle rider and that he was the one who asked him to take him from Orile to Surulere.

    He said: “I was the one that stopped him and asked him to drop me at Shitta. I have already snatched the bag from one woman near Samson Police Station, Bode Thomas before I asked him to carry me. He did not know that I wanted to use him to escape. It was when I was arrested that he knew that I am a bag snatcher and I even told the mob that he was a mere commercial motorcyclist but they could not listen to me rather it made them to continue to beat me until I could no longer talk about him. I am the real thief.”