The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Suspected cultists set house, cars ablaze

    •Stop fire fighters from containing outbreak

    Suspected cultists yesterday burned down a building and two vehicles at Ogijo, Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb.

    The arsonists were said to have attacked the properties belonging to the father of a leader in a rival cult group, located beside Omoleye hospital in Ogijo.

    It was learnt that the groups have had several clashes in the neighbourhood, destroying properties and valuables.

    The Nation gathered that the attacks forced residents to flee their homes for fear of being hurt by the cultists.

    Before the hoodlums set the house ablaze, they damaged two vehicles parked in the compound.

    They were said to have poured petrol on the building and lit it, keeping watch to ensure it was completely razed.

    Fire fighters at Ikorodu, who got to the scene to quench the fire were obstructed by the cultists, who threatened to also set fire on them and their truck if they do not vacate the premises.

    Confirming the development, the state fire service director, Rasaq Fadipe said the arson was reported at about 10:26am.

    Fadipe said: “Someone ran to the station to report the outbreak and our men moved to the site to contain it. But some boys came around and halted them from quenching the fire. They threatened to burn the men and the truck if they don’t leave the site. I do not know why they set the building ablaze but I learnt it belonged to the father of a rival cult member.”

    Fadipe also admitted that the fire service attended to a distress call at the Pan African University.

    According to him, the call was received at about 3:40pm, adding that the inferno started at the school’s diesel tank that supplies its generator.

    He said the fire destroyed the tank, the generator, as well as a PHCN cable.

    While warning Lagos residents to be safety conscious especially as the dry season approaches, Fadipe said the agency attended to six other cases yesterday.

    He said: “We attended to a fire call at 11 Ihuntayi Street in Lekki; there was also a fire outbreak which affected two buildings of eight rooms each at Muri Ojora Street, Amukoko.

    “Then, a confectionery factory at 5 /6 Peter Olu Ajayi Street, Agbado was gutted by fire, but our quick intervention saved the day; a restaurant at Ijaiye, Ogba also caught fire, thankfully, we were able to contain the fire there so that it does not spread into other shops and a bank beside it.

    “There was also a call of a drunk driver who was involved in a lone accident at Ebute Ero. By the time we got there, policemen were already at the scene and the man identified as Kasumu, claimed two of his passengers fell into the river.

    “But a search was conducted and no one was found in the river. You can see that most of the cases were caused by carelessness. People have to be careful especially now that the dry season is near,” he said.

  • NURTW hails Ambode on LASTMA

    NURTW hails Ambode on LASTMA

    National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos chapter, Financial Secretary Tokunbo Seriki has hailed Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on his directives to protect road users against harassment.

    He said Ambode’s directive that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials should not to arrest road users would serve as a relief to motorists who have been subjected to unnecessary exploitation.

    Seriki urged road users not to abuse the governor’s gesture, noting that it was the change the people had looked forward to in the new administration.

    “We must be frank, Governor Ambode meant well for Lagosians. We must not abuse this gesture, there is need to obey traffic rules and regulation,” he said.

    He hailed members of the union for the peaceful way they conducted themselves during its delegate conference at Abuja.

  • LAWMA official held for ‘stealing’ street light cable

    LAWMA official held for ‘stealing’ street light cable

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a member of a two-man syndicate which specialised in vandalising and stealing street light power cable.

    The suspect, Ibrahim Alli, 29, who claims he works with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), was caught by a RRS patrol team last Friday at Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.

    His accomplice, Yunusa fled.

    Police spokesman Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who confirmed the arrest, said: “The policemen who were on routine patrol in the area, sighted the two men while in the act of vandalising the street light power cable, which had left the entire community in blackout. As the policemen were approaching, the two of them took to their heels, and immediately the operatives made a hot chase while one of the suspects was apprehended, the second suspect escaped.

    “The suspect  from his statement  said he and his colleague were in the habit of vandalising and stealing the power cable which always has adverse effect on the entire community by letting the area in total blackout on several times.”

    The suspect, who claims to be a native of Yola Local Government in Adamawa State, gave reason for his action, stating:

    “I am a staff of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) at Onipanu, but I was not contented with my meagre salary. And my friend, Yunusa, introduced this act of robbery to me. On the midnight, I and Yunusa went to Opebi in Lagos to steal street light cable. While I was arrested, Yunusa, who is my leader, escaped. It is him, Yunusa, who used to sell the cable and I don’t know the receiver. I only assist him in vandalising the cables. He only gives me N1,000 or N1,500 after the sales”, he said in his confessional statement to the Police.

    Police said the suspected has been charged to court.

    The exhibits recovered from him include vandalised electrical cable, shovel, LAWMA Identity Card bearing his name and one wristwatch.

  • Banire, a man of clear vision, says VP

    Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo has described the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Muiz Banire (SAN) as a man with a clear vision and passion for excellence.

    He said Banire was among those who laid the foundation for a new Lagos owing to his uncommon dedication to work as Cabinet member during the tenure of former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Prof Osinbajo spoke at the weekend in Lagos at an event held in honour of Banire who was recently admitted into the league of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    He said it was a proud moment for him as Banire’s colleague in Bola Tinubu’s cabinet and teacher at the University of Lagos.

    In his message, Tinubu said the admission of Banire into the rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria was well deserved.

    Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the role of the judiciary is crucial at this moment of the nation’s history.

    Speaking on behalf of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) who graced the occasion, Ladi Williams said he was impressed by Banire’s hard work and intellectual capacity.

    Senator Ganiyu Solomon who spoke on behalf of his Constituency in Mushin disclosed that he has proved people who believe the area is only famous with violence and criminality wrong.

    Responding, the new Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Banire promised to do more in the support to the less privilege in the state.

    The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee conferred the rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 21 Nigerians on July 10.

  • Teenager pours hot water on mistress

    The police have re-arraigned a 17-year-old girl before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly bathing her employer with hot water.

    She was said to have poured the hot water on Dupe Agba, while she was asleep in her house on Osho Street, Lagos Island, on September 14.

    The teenager is standing trial on two counts of assault and causing grievous bodily damage under Sections 171 and 243 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos.

    Prosecuting police Inspector Philip Osijale said the defendant committed the offence a day after she was employed by the victim.

    Osijale said the defendant boiled water and monitored her boss until she slept off and then poured it on her.

    He alleged that the defendant told the police she committed the offence intentionally to teach the woman a lesson.

    The assault, he said, caused the woman injury on her chest, hands and other parts of her body.

    Osijale said the victim was still undergoing treatment.

    The suspect pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate W. Balogun granted her N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the matter till October 6, for mention.

  • Man ‘steals’ wine on his birthday

    A 23-year-old man, Yusuf Adeola, has been arraigned before an Ogba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja, for allegedly stealing two bottles of exotic wines on his birthday.

    According to prosecuting police Inspector N. Essien, Adeola allegedly stole two bottles of Rose Mort Chandon drink valued at N20,600 on September 20, at 11:30 am, from Bazaar Supermarket at Ade Akinsanya Street in Ilupeju, Lagos.

    Inspector Essien said the offence contravened Section 285(7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the one count charge and was granted N50,000 bail with one surety in the like sum by Magistrate E. Kubeinje.

    The magistrate ordered that the surety must have a means of livelihood, provide evidence of tax payment and a verifiable address.

    She adjourned the case till October 6.

  • My husband ‘fingers’ our daughters, says woman

    A woman, Mrs Adenike Dossou, has accused her husband of “fingering” their children while giving them a bath.

    Mrs Dossou, a civil servant, who is seeking the dissolution of her 12-year-old marriage to Segun Dossou, an Immigration Officer, at a Lagos Island Customary Court, said her husband always volunteered to bath their children while she handled the cooking.

    “I was shocked when our first daughter told me that she is growing and didn’t like what her dad did to her,” she said.

    Mrs Dossou said on three occasions, she didn’t find her husband beside her at night, adding whenever she searched for him, she saw him sleeping beside their children.

    She said: “I scolded him and asked if he wanted to ruin our children’s life but he didn’t respond. I am in support of the dissolution because I know he wants our children in his custody to continue his misdeeds.”

    Mrs Dossou added that the only thing her husband is interested in is charm adding that there were times he wouldn’t go to work but he gets paid.

    “I went with him to Cotonou to seal our union in their registry. I was just signing documents; I don’t know what was written in the papers. I don’t love him anymore and I don’t want to give my girls to live with him,” she said.

    Mr Dossou, 39, said their marriage troubles started when his wife got a job.

    “She is a thief, she steals government’s property. She brought cement and coal tar home. It was her attitude that made us fight and she left me.

    I just want our daughters. I don’t love or need her anymore,” he said.

    The marriage produced three children between ages 8, 10 and 12.

    The president, Chief Awos Awosola, advised them to be very careful with their utterances and adjourned the case till October 7 for judgment.

  • Group greets Buhari, Tinubu

    Group greets Buhari, Tinubu

    The Likeminds, a non-governmental organisation, has greeted President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of the Eid-El-Kabir.

    A statement by its State Coordinator, Comrade Shina Oyedokun, urged Nigerians to live in peace.

    “We also greet Vice President Yemi Osibajo, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Adebule, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Hon. Babatunde Adedoyin and Seye Oladejo,” Oyedokun said.

  • Residents accuse police of harassment, extortion

    Residents accuse police of harassment, extortion

    SOME residents of Mushin, Lagos, have accused the police of harassing, persecuting and extorting them for defending themselves from hoodlums.

    They said their trouble started after they caught and beat up a thief on September 9.

    Since then, they said men of Olosan Police Station have been arresting anyone they found on Hanson Lane off Olateju Street, demanding between N10,000 and N30,000 before releasing them.

    They recalled that a suspected thief, Damilola Tambolo, who scaled a perimeter fence around 2am and burgled the apartment of a resident, who raised the alarm, was caught and beaten up.

    He was saved by some people, who took him to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Soon after, the residents claimed that the police embarked on indiscriminate arrest of people for allegedly executing “jungle justice on an innocent man”.

    Among those arrested was the Landlords’ Association chairman, Latifu Asagunla, who allegedly paid N30,000 for his bail, and an undisclosed amount to offset part of the suspect’s hospital bill.

    A pepper seller, Mrs Wosilat Ajisegiri, 75, told The Nation that she was arrested last Wednesday during one of such raids.

    She said: “I was sitting in the front of my house when the police arrived in a van and started picking people indiscriminately. I pleaded with them that I was not feeling fine, but none of them was ready to listen to me. They took me away.”

    One Muraina Ajao, 65, who went to the station to secure her release was also allegedly detained.

    He was freed after his daughter allegedly paid N5,000 to an officer, simply identified as Owolabi.

    The policemen allegedly returned on Friday, shooting sporadically to scare some protesting youths, many of who were injured while scampering to safety.

    It was learnt that the security agents arrested four persons, including a civil servant, Adesola Adenaya and an auto mechanic, Muyideen Ajisegiri.

    They also vandalised the shop of a tailor identified as Shakiru, carting away his sewing machines.

    At the station yesterday, the residents were seen raising N20,000 for the bail of those arrested.

    A youth, who asked not to be named, said: “We have been having sleepless nights because of the activities of petty thieves. We reported to the police but they did not respond to our complaints.

    “In the past weeks, petty thieves had burgled apartments on my street to rob people of their personal effects, such as phones, laptops and food items.

    “The gang went away with a tricycle that was parked in care of a Hausa man that sells provisions by the road side. The following day, the owner came to arrest the Hausa man. The poor man is still paying for the tricycle.”

    Another resident, simply identified as Tunde said they were afraid to go about their daily routines because of the police raid.

    He said: “We are scared of coming out of our rooms because of the police raid. They have been harassing people, because we refused to pay for the hospital bill of the suspect.

    “Please, help us publish this story so that the police authorities can call their men in Olosan Police Station to order.”

    Another resident appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to investigate the activities of his men at Olosan Division, saying the residents are being hunted by robbers at night and policemen in the day.

    He said: “For some weeks now, a particular petty thief had burgled apartments on my street. I say ‘petty thief’ because if he breaks into a room and can not find phones or other little gadgets to steal, he goes to the fridge or kitchen and clears every food item he sees there and then he ‘shits’  before leaving.

    “This same guy has robbed different apartments on my street four times in the last five weeks and often attacked between 1am and 3am.

    “One time, he came with his gang and went away with a tricycle that was parked in care of a mallam that sells provisions by the road side. The following day, the owner came to arrest the mallam. The poor man is still paying for the tricycle till this day.

    “The thief came back on September 9 and he got caught. The guys that caught him beat him up so bad not only because he stole but because he stabbed an old man on the chest.

    “Then later, they called in policemen and that’s how the whole ‘wahala’ started.

    “When the police came, the first question they asked was why the suspect was beaten?

    “Then on September 12, 15 armed men from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) came to arrest innocent youths and aged men and women on Hanson Close on the basis that they beat up a thief.

    “How were they supposed to subdue him without beating him? This is a guy that is notorious for beating up his victims.

    “Please, we are scared of coming out of our rooms because of men from SARS. Policemen have been to my area twice to arrest people because we refused to pay for the hospital bill of a robbery suspect!

    “The suspected thief in question has been admitted to LUTH and they (SARS officials) are still harassing us because we refused to contribute money for his treatment.

    “They also claimed they bought provisions for him and that we should pay for that too. Please, help us publish this story so that the right authorities can see this and help us restore peace to our area.

    “We are scared of thieves at night and afraid of SARS men in the day!”

    But, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), told The Nation that the suspect was not a robber because “no item, no weapon was found on him”.

    Although he could not say what the suspect was doing in the compound at 2am, the DPO insisted that he was a victim of jungle justice.

    “What did he steal? The policemen who rescued the suspect from the mob did not find any weapon or stolen items with him,” he said.

    When contacted, police spokesman Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), claimed the residents beat the man and turned him to vegetable before bringing him to the station, adding that no one has come forward to attest that the alleged robber was found in his house.

    Offor said: “I’ve called the DPO and he said they are raiding the area because the victim was brought to the station as a vegetable. The street leader was the one who brought the man to the station and since then no one has come to say it was in his house the alleged thief came.

    “He also said they did not collect any money from anyone and that anyone with evidence should come forward. Also anyone who claims the victim is a thief should also come forward with evidence.”

  • Task Force arrests 1,000 Okada riders, street traders

    Task Force arrests 1,000 Okada riders, street traders

    COMMERCIAL motorcyclists, operating in Lagos have again been warned to stay off all restricted routes in the state, failing which they risk arrest and prosecution.

    Task Force on the Environment and Miscellaneous Offences chairman, Olubukola Abe, a Superintendent of Police (SP), reminded the operators that Section 3 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012 was still in force.

    According to Abe, motorcycle operators have been restricted to 475 of the 9100 roads in the state, excluding the highways and bridges.

    He stated law enforcement officers have been empowered to ensure compliance with the law and restore sanity on Lagos roads by curbing the excesses of motorcyclists (a.ka. Okada riders) and street traders.

    The Task Force chief confirmed that more than 1000 offenders, including motorcyclists and street traders, have been arrested since he assumed office August 9.

    He said the street hawkers will be arraigned for prosecution and their wares confiscated.