The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Rotary moves against Ebola Virus

    The Rotary Club of Isolo, District 9110 Nigeria, in conjunction with Babalola Peace Foundation, has launched an awareness campaign on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The campaign was part of activities to welcome the District Governor of Rotary, District 9110 Nigeria, Dr Bamidele Balogun, when he visited the club.

    An Ophthalmologist, Dr Fatai Oluyadi said the campaign was to increase awareness on the measures to prevent the spread of the virus and let people know that the disease will become history if the measures are observed.

    He urged people to continue with the hygienic measures of washing their hands, frequent use of sanitisers, avoiding bush meat and touching or washing of the dead, among others.

    Caregivers, he said, should protect themselves by wearing masks, gloves and goggles where they come in contact with people who may have Ebola.

    “The health institutions have to be meticulous about accessing a patient, even before the patient enters the hospital. The government also needs to provide facilities to handle the few cases that we have,” he said.

    Oluyadi identified some of the symptoms of Ebola as fever, sore throat, muscle pains, headaches, vomiting, loss of appetite, and bleeding from the mouth or intestine.

    He advised people to avoid going to crowded environments where people may have the disease, avoid contact with body fluids, sweat, saliva, semen and blood of infested persons both living and dead.

    The President, Rotarian Adegoke Adeoye, said besides the campaign on Ebola, the club distributed 2000 pamphlets on precautions of its outbreak; de-wormed children in the area and commissioned drinkable and disease-free water project at Aye Bus stop, Isolo, to improve on resident’s health and prevent all other forms of diseases.

    “In our quest to help humanity, the club also graduated and gave certificate to about 12 teachers which it has trained and donated a wheel chair to a disabled cobler, Mr Adelabu in Isolo,” he said.

    Balogun said Rotary cares about the people, adding that the club’s activities were a symbol of what Rotary does. The club, he said, had done well.

  • Residents allege attack by Civil Defence officials

    Residents allege attack by Civil Defence officials

    Residents Maba Inland in Ikorodu, Lagos, have accused officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of violating their rights.

    It was alleged that an attempt was made on the life of NSCDC Commandant-General Dr Ade Abolurin on the Island last Friday during a tour by his committee constituted by the Attorney-General to access disposable and forfeited items.

    An unindentified police officer was said to have attempted to open fire on Abolurin and over 200 members of his committee who came to arrest some disposable forfeited items.

    The residents alleged that the NSCDC operatives, who raided the area in search of vandals broke into their homes and destroyed their properties.

    When The Nation visited the community on Saturday, the residents, who claimed that there was no confrontation between the police and the civil defence operatives, said some of them were attacked during the raid.

    A petty trader simply identified as Taye said: “I was in my shop when they arrived, shooting; they dragged me, our guest and my husband outside and forced us to sit on the floor. I tried to beg them but they kept beating us, alleging that we were vandals. They threatened to take me and my entire family to Abuja as criminals. It was when I told them that I am a member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) that they allowed my husband to bring out his identity card. It was a female among them that pleaded that they should let us go, following which they released us. I thank God that I was not killed.”

    Another resident, Timilehin Adebayo, said: “I was sleeping when the Civil Defence men arrived. I was woken up by banging on my door. I shouted that they should hold on as I was naked. Before I could pick a dress, they broke into my room and met me naked. They still ransacked the house looking for any empty gallon.”

    Okoro Ejiofor, who said no fewer than 20 civil defence men stormed their compound, said: “They smashed my window in the name of searching for vandals and destroyed my properties. Can they go to Arepo and invade people’s houses like they did to ours? They simply felt that the poor cannot challenge them.”

    An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Tajudeen Ogunse, who condemned the invation, swore that there was no crisis between the police and operatives of the NSCDC.

    “The truth is that the community suffered in the hands of NSCDC. It was not a peaceful visit. Maybe, the Commandant General did not know what happened. He should go round and see how his men destroyed our properties including a church,” he said.

    Chief Isiaka Ejalonibu, an eyewitness, who expressed relief that no one was killed, said: “It was a reign of terror in this area. Everyone ran into their houses for fear of being killed by stray bullet. I got to know that there was something wrong when I heard gun shots and everyone ran into the house.”

    Force spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, a Deputy Commissioner (DCP), said the allegation was being investigated.

  • Reporter loses wife

    Reporter loses wife

    Mr Uyoatta Eshiet of The Nation has lost his wife, Mary, a Chartered Accountant. She died on August 1, at a specialist hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital. She was 39.

    The family of Pastor and Mrs Emah Eshiet of Afia Nsit Udua Nko, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, described her death as painful.

    Her burial service, a statement said, would hold at the St. Matthias African Church, Afia Nsit Udua Nko Parish, on Friday at the Emah Eshiet’s family compound, Afia Nsit Udua Nko.

    Eshiet, who described her as a virtuous woman, said she is survived by her children: Daniel, Precious and David; a brother, Mr Ubong Michael Evans and two sisters, Mrs Uduak Christopher and Mrs Aniebiet Iboro Inyang.

  • Three held for alleged cultism, attempted murder

    Three held for alleged cultism, attempted murder

    Three persons have been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos Police Command for alleged cultism and attempted murder.

    Abimbola Oginni, Bode Samuel and Sampson Oseni were arrested by the Superintendent Abba Kyari – led operatives after a manhunt.

    Oginni and Samuel were alleged to have shot at one, Ibrahim, on Popoola Street in Bariga, Lagos Mainland, with a locally made pistol on Oseni’s orders.

    Police investigations showed that the gun was one of the four bought by Oseni with which his group, Eiye confraternity, terrorises the area.

    The suspects reportedly said they attacked Ibrahim because he belongs to another group, Aiye, which always fight their members.

    Oseni, 30, who hails from Ijebu in Ogun State and lives at 1/3, Animasaun Close, Somolu-Bariga, said he was a property agent before his arrest, adding: “I was arrested at Somolu as a result of cultism. I belong to Eiye cult. I gave Oginni and Samuel money to purchase a gun. They used the gun for cult fight. I am a commander in the cult. I asked them to kill the guy called Ibrahim who belongs to Aiye cult. I did that because as a commander, I was informed that Ibrahim’s group came to attack our members. I instructed them to go for a reprisal. I joined the cult in 2011.

    “We have two guns. I gave them N20,000 for the two guns, but I did not know where they bought the guns from. They just collected the money from me and the attack was carried out in early June. I feel so bad that police arrested me for not only being a member of secret cult, but for trying to assassinate somebody. I will quit cult if I get out of this problem.”

    Oginni, 26, a cobbler, who lives at 3, Olaleye Street, Somolu and a native of Ilesa in Osun State, said: “I am married with two children. Police arrested me because I am a cult member.  I belong to Eiye confraternity. I joined the cult this year. I fought with Aiye cult members. Our commander (Sampson) asked us to kill Ibrahim. Oseni threatened me to join the cult. I feel so bad that police arrested me for cultism and an attempt to kill somebody.”

    Ondo State-born Samuel (25), who lives at 6, Ayoade Street, Somolu, said he sells male clothes at the Yaba market. “I was arrested for cult activities. I belong to Eiye, which I joined this year during a burial ceremony at Ijebu-Ode. We have four guns in our group, which Oseni provided. I have not killed anybody before.”  Oginni was the first to be arrested by the operatives of the Somolu Police Division after which he was transferred to SARS.

    Following his statement, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 2 comprising Lagos and Ogun State commands Umar Manko, mandated Kyari to go after other members of the cult.

  • Police urged to fish out monarch’s attackers

    Police urged to fish out monarch’s attackers

    The police have been urged to fish out the perpetrators of last Tuesday’s attack on the palace of the Oloto of Oto, Lagos Mainland, Oba Ganiyu Odesanya.

    The Chairman of Lagos Mainland Council, Oladele Adekanye, said the attack was unfortunate because the monarch is one of the pillars of his administration.

    “I was shocked to the marrow when I learnt of the attack on the palace of the revered Kabiyesi. I was saddened by the incident. He did not deserve it by reason of his contribution to the peace and development that our domain has been witnessing. He has remained a dependable father of all. So, whoever did that to him must be dealt with in accordance with the laws of our land,” he said.

    He urged parents and guardians to monitor their children, even as he called on community, religious and other leaders to step up efforts at keeping the youths in check.

    Besides engaging about 1,000 jobless youths, Adekanye said the council also holds regular meetings with them to ensure peaceful co-existence.

    He lamented the youth unrest across the state and beyond, saying it is the fallout of the prevailing socio-economic problems.

    “We put many of them in one committee or the order to carry them along in our service delivery to the people and cushion the effect of unemployment in my council area. We did that having realised the fact that youth restiveness is a direct off-shoot of the current socio-economic malaise rattling the land,” Adekanye said.

    “My administration has never shirked its responsibility of creating stability in my domain by replicating the responsive leadership being offered at the state level by our indefatigable governor in line with the people-centred principle of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). We have rehabilitated many roads and sustained the culture of environmental sanity. We built and equipped the Public Health Centre (PHC) at Oto and made others functional.

    “At the inception of every session, we give our a dozen free notebooks to each of the pupils in all our primary schools. With all these and many others, we have oiled the wheel of harmony among our people. As we keep empowering the youth with our limited resources, we also empower adults, especially traders across all political party affiliations because we are serving the people generally and not only APC members,” he added.

  • Residents to Fashola: fix our road

    Residents to Fashola: fix our road

    Residents of Ijagemo community in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to make good his promise to improve their lot.

    Among others, they are asking the administration to fix the road leading to the community, which they claimed, “is now being plied with canoes.”

    The residents said they had complained to the council, adding that the worsening condition of the road is affecting their economic activities.

    One of the community’s leaders, Alhaji Adio Ajakaye, told The Nation: “I am a native of this community and the road has been like that since the days of my grandfather. Besides the bad road, we once groped in the dark for two years. Fashola must extend his good governance to our area.”

    Another resident, Mr Tunde Balogun, corroborated Ajakaye, saying: “It is very stressful when going out and coming into the community. I have been living here since nine years now; the road has always been used for campaign by politicians, only to forget us after the elections.”

    Mrs. Sherifat Adeoye, a trader, said most of them are scared of the roads and now carry their loads on their heads to and from their houses.

    A motorcyclist, who identified himself as Monsuru, said he, like others, had been spending more money on repairing his bike daily because of the bad road.

    Alhaji Taiwo Akintola, another elder in the community, expressed concerns over the plight of school children and the aged, noting that the problem was caused by an abandoned canal in the area.

    A source said Fashola had inspected the road, adding: “I am sure that plans are afoot to work on the road because I learnt that our chairman has been on the state government’s neck.”

  • Police arrest ‘human heads’ dealers’

    Police arrest ‘human heads’ dealers’

    Three native doctors have been arrested by the police for allegedly using ground human heads mixed with herbs to prepare medicine.

    They are: Mustapha Muritala, 42; Sunday Oluyeba, 44, and Mrs Adenike Olanrewaju, 34. Adenike is the wife of another native doctor, Jumo Abayomi a.k.a Bababeji, who is at large.

    Five others: Chief Phiga Osho; Sunday Oluyeba a.k.a Lewa, Kehinde Ali, Nasiru Olaonipekun and Kazeem Olagekekan a.k.a Kabiyesi of Aye Ila in Sagamu, Ogun State, are said to be wanted by the police.

    Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command led by the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Superintendent Abba Kyari stormed Sagamu following a tip-off that some native doctors in Sagamu were about to buy two human heads to make medicine.

    Muritala was arrested on August 16, while handing over two human heads to a buyer; the female suspect and others were arrested on August 18.

    Muritala said: “I was a herbalist before I wrote my Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). I was the one who handed the head over to the buyer who put us into this trouble. I collected the two heads from Sunday and I gave him N30,000.

    “I learned how to use human heads to do medicine from my friend, Saburi Babalawo a.k.a Alfa, who is based in Abeokuta, 15 years ago. Saburi also said they needed two birds (ogee eye Oshin) and begged me to help him buy them. He said he wanted to help a woman in labour to deliver safely; I went to Sunday Oluyeba and collected two heads.”

    Oluyeba, who described Muritala as his neighbour, said: “I only helped him, he did not give me N30,000. I just finished my father’s final burial at Ado Ekiti only to return to be arrested by policemen for helping somebody to buy human heads.

    The heads he bought were those of the two thieves killed by Abayomi who works as a security guard and native doctor. In fact, I saw blood in a drum in his house. He promised to give the two heads to Muritala whenever they met. I was at Ado Ekiti when Mustapha went and collected the two heads from him. I am a native doctor that cures barrenness and stroke. I don’t use human heads to prepare medicine.”

    Adenike, who said she did not know that her husband deals in human heads, said she only knew him as a native doctor.

    “My husband and Sunday are friends, neighbours and native doctors. I was at home when policemen came. I told them that my husband went to farm; they arrested me in order for my husband to come out and defend himself,” she said.

    Police said efforts were being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. The two heads have been recovered.

  • Mother of three caught with cannabis at airport

    Mother of three caught with cannabis at airport

    A 37-year-old mother of three, Ezeh Ifeoma Maureen, has been arrested with substances suspected to be cannabis by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    She was caught at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in  Ikeja, Lagos, during outward screening of China-bound Ethiopian Airlines’ passengers for allegedly attempting to smuggle 6.200 kilogrammes of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis.

    The agency’s Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the suspect told the officers that her bags contained vegetables and foodstuff.

    “She declared the content of her bags as vegetables and foodstuff, but during a search, the vegetables turned out to be cannabis weighing 6.200 kilogrammes.  The drug was packed in two parcels.”

    The suspect, who hails from Anambra State, said: “I am a business woman; I sell women’s clothes at the Onitsha main market. I usually export foodstuff to China and import female dresses to Nigeria. One of my customers in China called to tell me that his brother would give me two parcels of vegetables to bring to him. I collected the parcels at the airport from the boy. Unfortunately, when they tested them, I was told that they contained cannabis.”

    Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, advised the public to learn from the cases of those arrested for drug trafficking. “This mother of three children would have been killed in China for drug trafficking if she was not apprehended here. It is important for the public to learn from her experience and shun drug trafficking,” he said.

    Giade warned passengers not to collect items from people, who will not be there during a search.

    The suspect, Giade said, would be charged to court for unlawful possession of, and attempt to export cannabis.

  • Siblings held for ‘cutting tenant’s genital’

    Two siblings arrested yesterday were remanded in Ikoyi Prisons for allegedly slicing off the scrotum of their tenant, Layinka Offahin.

    Solomon Olowogbemi, 24, and Damilola Olayeye, 22, were remanded by Magistrate F.J. Adefioye of the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court following their arraignment on a three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and attempted murder.

    The offence was said to have been committed on July 25 at 4.30am, at 15, Popoola Street, off Abaranje Road, Ikotun, a Lagos suburb.

    Prosecuting Corporal Onaiwu Iyobosa told the court that the victim, who died following the incident, had a disagreement with his landlady, prompting the attack by her children.

    Iyobosa said the victim agreed to pack out in August after the landlady told him to leave her house.

    “On the fateful day, the deceased and his family were sleeping when they heard a loud bang on their door. The defendants forcefully entered and began to destroy his electronics and other valuables.

    “One of the defendants had a knife and they took the deceased’s N8, 000. They descended on him. He fought back and the suspects cut off his scrotum. He shouted for help and neighbours hurriedly rushed him to the hospital, while the defendants were subsequently arrested,” said Iyobosa.

    The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened Section 228, 231 and 295 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    The defendants’ pleas were not taken. The Magistrate ordered that they be remanded in Ikoyi Prison and the case file sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

    He adjourned the case till September 17.

  • Jealous lover remanded for alleged murder

    YABA Magistrate’s Court in Lagos Mainland has remanded a 31-year-old man in prison for allegedly strangling his lover.

    Magistrate A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu ordered William Chukwunango remanded following his arraignment.

    The defendant was said to have killed his lover, a mother of four and Managing Director, Edmark International, Lizzy Nzewi, 39, on July 19, at her residence in Festac, Amuwo Odofin.

    He was brought before Magistrate Ipaye-Nwachukwu on a two-count charge of robbery and murder, contrary to Sections 221 and 295 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    Prosecuting Inspector Chuwku Agu told the court that the defendant also stole some of the late Lizzy’s possessions including a Range Rover Sports car marked EKY509AZ.

    He said other items stolen by the defendant included N140,000; one Nokia cell phone; one Motorola cell phone; one Huwai cell phone and an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card of Diamond Bank, which values are yet to be ascertained.

    Agu said the defendant was arrested by InterPol at the exit border of Abidjan enroute Ghana while fleeing with the deceased’s Range Rover, adding that he used the deceased’s ATM to withdraw N140,000 from her account.

    The defendant’s plea could not be taken because the court lacks jurisdiction to try murder.

    The Magistrate ordered him remanded in prison pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). The matter was adjourned till September 24.