The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Soldier ‘punches’ bus driver to death

    A commercial bus driver, Bashiru Adebayo (34), reportedly died yesterday from a soldier’s blow. The incident occurred in Obalende on Lagos Island around 6.45am.

    The soldier, according to an eyewitness, was escorting his wife, who was travelling to her village, when an argument ensued between him and the victim.

    The witness said the soldier, a Private, was in mufti.

    The witness, a trader, said: “There was an argument between the soldier and the deceased over N100. The soldier, who was in mufti, complained that the transport fare was too high but the bus driver was adamant. During the argument, the soldier punched the driver just once and he fell and died.”

    It was learnt that the driver’s colleagues attempted to lynch the soldier but was saved by the prompt arrival of his colleagues.

    His wife was said to have run to the nearby Dodan Barracks to inform them of her husband’s ordeal.

    The Director, Army Public Relations Office, 81 Division, Lt. Col Omale Ochuagwuba said: “The soldier (suspect) said he was in mufti and was seeing his wife off at Obalende. His wife was billed to travel to the village and was boarding a commercial bus. His wife’s belongings had been put into the bus but an argument ensued over the cost of transportation.

    “The soldier told the driver that the fare was too high and the driver threw the soldier’s wife’s bags out of the vehicle and pushed the soldier, leading to a fight between both of them. The driver’s colleagues joined hands to beat up the soldier.

    “The soldier’s wife ran down to Dodan Barracks to report the matter, but by the time the soldiers got there, the bus driver was already dead.”

    Ochuagwuba confirmed the suspect’s arrest, adding that the army was investigating the matter.

  • Ikuforiji advises youths

    Ikuforiji advises youths

    LAGOS State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has urged youths to participate in partisan politics to become effective agents of change.

    Ikuforiji gave the advice at the 2013 end-of-year dinner organised by World Changers International (WCI), a youth-based non-governmental organisation, at Ikeja, the state capital.

    He said: “Leaders that left indelible marks on the sands of time charted their life-changing course in their youthful days. It got them no applause at the time because the courses were not designed to please the gallery.

    “Obama’s audacity of hope was a youthful imagination; Gandhi’s propagation of peaceful protest was nurtured in his youthful days; Mandela’s anti-apartheid stance was a youthful zeal; the Ruler of the United Arab Emirates had a vision in his youth, and Dubai was created from nothing. They all have two things in common: they had the quest for positive change; they also took full advantage of the opportunity to make a change.”

    The Speaker said it would be shameful for youths to sit on the fence in the election of Nigeria’s political leadership in 2015, stating that “currently, the youth have surrendered the bulk of our political space to the dishonourable, the incompetent and worse, to the criminally-minded.”

    The group’s president, Mr Tim Ayoola Abiodun, who lamented the non-involvement of youths in key decision-making organs in the country, noted that the programme was organised to provide a platform for youths to interact with political and business leaders.

    “WCI is an organisation with passion for youth empowerment and development. We have a lot to learn from our leaders to be more active economically, socially and politically,” Abiodun stated.

  • Free bus ride at Yuletide

    Free bus ride at Yuletide

    To ease movement during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Lagos State Government yesterday announced the provision of free buses for commuters between tomorrow and next Wednesday.

    A statement by the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the gesture would enable Lagosians move freely during the period.

    Mobereola said the free bus service which began in 2008 had helped in reducing congestion and accident on the roads during festive periods, adding that the service would run for 13 hours starting at 7.00am and ends at 10.00pm.

  • Police smash seven-man gang

    Police smash seven-man gang

    The Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has smashed a seven-man armed robbery gang that specialised in robbing traders on major highways and diverting trailer loads of goods.

    Their favourite loot include: Forever Living Products, especially Aloe Vera and other drugs, motor tyres and milk.

    According to police sources, the gang diverted goods in transit between Lagos and Onitsha.

    A source said some of the goods were recovered and handed over to their owners after the suspects’ arrest last Saturday.

    Seven suspects were arrested, while their sponsor and receiver of their loot, simply known as Obinna, who is wanted for over 10 cases involving robbery and diversion of goods, is still at large.

    The first suspect and leader of the gang, Jude Madu (29), who hails from Umunze in Anambra State, said it was one of them, a soldier, who supplied AK47 rifle and pistols to the gang.

    Madu added: “When we blocked the truck loaded with chemicals, the soldier went straight to the driver and slapped him for hitting our car. He asked the driver and the conductor to alight, threatening that he would take them to Army Barracks and ordered Abuchi to drive the truck. We drove the truck to Iddo Park on Lagos Mainland and handed it over to Obinna’s man who later took it to Onitsha where Obinna received it. Obinna paid N2 million, but did not pay a kobo for the drugs. I collected N200, 000.”

    Romanus Nweke (30), a native of Mmaku Village in Ogu Local Government Area of Enugu State, who deals in scraps in Obasanjo area in Otta, Ogun State, said: “It was the soldier that gave me an army uniform and polo bearing Lance Corporal rank to follow them to hijack truck. I got N150, 000. My role was to intimidate the driver with my gun.”

    Edwin Ndinemeni (27), from Ugwuta in Imo State, was a tile fixer and marble dealer before he joined the gang. He said: “My role is to act as commander and order Abuchi to take the truck to off-loading point at Iddo Park. I got N350, 000 from the chemical job, while I got nothing from the drug truck because Obinna had not paid.

    Abuchi Afunaya (26), a driver, who hails from Ifite Village in Orlu in Imo State, said he got N150, 000.

    The fifth suspect, Chibuzor Umebi (24) from Otolo Village, Nnewi, Anambra State, said: “I am a businessman. I dealt in electronics before I lost my goods to armed robbers. That was what led me into armed robbery after. My role is to join the soldier to hold the conductor and the driver for easy take-over and diversion of the truck. A victim once cursed me during one of the operations.”

    Orlu, Imo State-born Osita Nnaji (27), who described himself as a professional driver, denied partaking in the drugs deal, stating: “What I did with them was motor tyres’ and milk work. I did tyre work with one Sunny and Chidiebere. The tyre job was successful and I got N250, 000. And from the milk job, I got N300, 000. I decided to do my job with Chidiebere and Sunny because Madu’s gang used to cheat me. They used to tell stories if you are not there whenever they get money – we call it dividend.”

    The command’s spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ngozi Braide confirmed their arrest. She said the command was ready for a crime-free Christmas in Lagos and praised the public for its cooperation.

  • Commissioner empowers the needy

    Commissioner empowers the needy

    Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello has empowered 36 residents of Yaba/Mainland Local Government Area. The gesture took place at his quarterly scholarship/empowerment scheme held at the Mainland Independent Group (MIG) office in Yaba.

    He urged chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area to close ranks in the party’s interest.

    Bello, who is the group’s patron, promised to sustain the scheme which started in April, saying: ‘’My modest contributions to poverty alleviation in Yaba and Mainland are in consonance with the principles of the APC’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Bello said Governor Babatunde Fashola’s performance at the state level required complementary social responsibility by other officials at the local government and community level.’’ The Chairman, MIG, Hon. Kayode Aransiola; Coordinator Alhaji Ibrahim Megida and Woman Leader Alhaja Nimota Morenikeji said the gesture was unprecedented in the area’s political history.

    They praised Tinubu, Fashola and Senator Oluremi Tinubu for their ‘’people-centred policies,’’ adding: ”APC will make tremendous impact on the lives of Nigerians if it captures power at the centre.”

  • Pupil ‘stabbed to death’ by mates

    Pupil ‘stabbed to death’ by mates

    December 8 will remain indelible in the mind of Razaak Akanbi Badmus. On that day, he bade Fatai, his 18-year-old son, who was going back to school, a painful final bye. Reason: He knew not that it would be the last day he would set his eyes on him.

    Fatai had visited his father in Lagos and returned to Meteorite Standard School at Ayetoro in Ogun State, where he was a second-year Senior Secondary School student.

    His father, a pool sub-manager at the Facility Department, National Sports Commission (NSC), said he got a distress call that students in his son’s school had stabbed him to death.

    “I was confused. I asked: ‘Which Fatai?’ I went crazy. I later received more information that some students in SS3 stabbed him on his chest and stomach. They stabbed him because he stopped a fight between SS2 and SS3 students.”

    It was gathered that students from SS3 allegedly stormed SSS 2A class. Fatai was in SS2A and a fight broke out. Though the school’s authority later stopped the fight after Fatai rushed to alert the proprietor of the school, the SS3 students were aggrieved that Fatai intervened. They, therefore, lured him out of the school to where they stabbed him to death.

    The proprietor, Mr Joseph Afolahan, said: “I got a call from the hospital where he was rushed to that one of my students was stabbed to death. When I got there, I saw Fatai and I was shocked. I learnt some students waylaid him, using his classmates to lure him to the back of a Complex (mall), where they stabbed him to death. The doctors tried but the wounds led to his death. I am very sad over this incident. I have invited the police to fish out the students who did this. This is terrible.

    “For secondary school students to become killers does not portend good for the community and it is unacceptable. I am supporting the police and they have arrested two of the students, but others have fled. We are in touch with their parents to bring them out to face the wrath of the law. Fatai was a loving boy. He was a peace maker and I told his father not to pay school fees next term because of his good behaviour. I’m grieving over him and those involved will not go scot-free. This is the first time such is happening and I have taken steps to prevent further occurrence.”

    Insisting that he wants justice for his son’s killing, his father said: “Fatai was my second son; he was very responsible. He was the one organising prayers in the mosque. He was a peacemaker and it is sad that they killed him because of that. He trained as aluminium technician and he was very good at his work, getting contracts from people. His killing is a big loss to my family and I will miss him.” Sodding, the Fatai’s father added: “He was a great child with promising future, but his school mates wasted him for me. I will get to the root of the killing and ensure all the students involved in killing him are arrested and made to face the law. I will fight for justice for my son.”

    The case is being investigated by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Ogun State Police Command.

  • Businessman petitions police over eviction

    A businessman, Mr Boniface Ezeisi, the Chief Executive Officer of Boney Marcus Industry Limited, has petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko over his “illegal eviction” from his office situated on 26, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Road, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, by a man simply identified as Major Okoro.

    Okoro, Ezeisi said, claimed to be Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Globacom chairman Mr Mike Adenuga.

    He said Okoro invaded the building one morning with some security operatives to eject its occupants.  Addressing reporters yesterday, Ezeisi said: “I called you people here because I was ejected from my former office by one Major Okoro who claims to be CSO to Mr Mike Adenuga. He said he got directives from Adenuga to remove all tenants from the property. I asked him if he had any court order , quit notice or written directives from Adenuga to carry out the said action, he (Okoro) said he didn’t need them, adding that he is above getting court orders or quit notices from anyone.

    “I still have properties worth about $750,000 inside the safe in the shop; they locked everywhere and station private security men within the building’s premises; we don’t have access to our properties.”

    Ezeisi spoke further: “I don’t believe Mr Adenuga knew about this action because if he did, there would have been a court order. I am 100 per cent sure that Mr Adenuga never made such order to evict us form the building.”

    In his letter to Manko through his lawyer, David Adjarho, he said Okoro perpetrated the act on May 24, at about 8am when he came in a black Toyota Prado SUV with some riot policemen who stormed the place in a Toyota Hilux Van.

    “ … Our client has lost over N20 million worth of goods due to the illegal and malicious acts of these fellows,” he added.

    The legal practitioner condemned Okoro’s alleged action and urged the police to ensure that his client gets justice.

    The letter has been referred to the Area F police Command “for immediate action,” while Mr Robert Obasogie is the inspector in charge of the case.

  • Agony as Badagry demolition continues

    Agony as Badagry demolition continues

    BADAGRY remained in the news yesterday as the police continued what they called the demolition of illegal structures.

    To salvage their properties, some landlords pulled down their homes before the bulldozers got there.

    It was sorrow never experienced by residents of the Atinporome community in Mowo-Badagry, Lagos. Tears flowed freely as the bulldozers later levelled their homes.

    The development, police said on Monday, arose from residents’ alleged encroachment on the land which they claimed, was acquired for the purpose of erecting an estate for their officers.

    Policemen from OP MESA, an arm of the Lagos State Police Command, were deployed to forestall resistance. About three police vans were stationed at strategic locations.

    A victim, Benneth Oyakhilome, told The Nation: “They (policemen) came on Monday at about 4am with 20 Hilux vans loaded with armed policemen and six Black Maria vehicles. They began demolition immediately without allowing us to rescue anything. The demolition lasted till about 6pm and resumed early today (Tuesday).”

    There were heaps of personal effects at various locations in the community. A resident who pleaded for anonymity said: “When the news reached Tony (a hotel owner) that the police were already pulling down his new hotel, the man rushed down here. When he arrived, the hotel was already destroyed halfway. Curiously, the man just burst into uncontrollable laughter. He then ordered for beer which he drank until he passed out and was rushed to a nearby hospital. We learnt that Tony is dead, but we are yet to confirm it.”

    One of the three bulldozers had already broken down, while the others continued to mow down the buildings one after the other.

    Meanwhile, the embattled residents have urged government to compel the police to produce evidence that the land was sold to them.

    It was learnt that when the threats of demolition by the police began in 2009, the residents sought help through the court and in 2011, they were granted an injunction over the land. To them, the Monday incident was a surprise.

    The community’s traditional ruler, Chief Joshua Medepo, appealed for government’s intervention, adding that neither he nor his forefathers had any document showing that the land was sold to the police. He wondered why the police should resort to such action when the matter is still in court.

    He said the notice which was sent to him by the police specified Agemowo/Agelado communities as the demolition points and not Atinporome.

    A letter dated December 14, 2013 was addressed to Chief Medepo. It was titled: Encroachment on police land located at Agemowo/Agelado Mowo via Badagry. The letter was signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin) for the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Ikeja.

    Medepo said: “Government should help us find out who sold the land to it. I became Baale three years ago, but I never heard anything like that. In 2009, these people came laying claim to this land; we went to court. Our lawyer and theirs were represented.  In 2011, the court gave injunction, ordering them to stop the survey which they had started then. Later, they came with bulldozers, but we chased them away and we did not see them until now. We protested to the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja and met with the governor and one of his aides claimed to be unaware of the police action.”

    “It was strange because we received no notice of the demolition although there had been a land ownership tussle. I was invited by Area K Command on Saturday with a notice that police are coming for demolition here. The letter given to that effect bore the name of two other communities – Agemowo and Agelado – which are on the opposite side of the expressway and not Atinporome.”

    Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Adu Charles, claimed that the police bought the land from Afemowo and Agelado, and not Atinporome. He said “because they discovered that that place was swampy, they shifted to a dry land here, not minding that the people who bought land were already occupying it.” He corroborated the Baale on the notice, adding: “We went to the Urban and Rural Development office, the Secretariat, Alausa, where the commissioner denied knowledge of the letter. We also went to the Task Office in Ikeja, which also denounced the letter.’

  • Three robbery suspects caught trying to sell loot

    Three robbery suspects caught trying to sell loot

    Three armed robbery suspects who allegedly snatched cars on Opere Street, Coker Aguda in Surulere, Lagos on December 14 have been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.

    They were caught while attempting to hand the cars over to receivers on Market Street, Oyingbo, Lagos Mainland.

    The suspects are: Jamiu Agboola (20), Toibu Oyeyinka (24) and Lanre Otunola (18). They were paraded yesterday with the items at the command’s Ikeja, Lagos headquarters.

    Items recovered from them include two locally-made pistols, four live cartridges, one Honda Acura MDC Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), 2013 model, marked AKD 09 AA and one silver-coloured Toyota Highlander SUV, marked AGL 327 CD.

    The command’s spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ngozi Braide said the suspects’ arrest followed information received on December 15 by the Officer in Charge of the SARS, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari that two stolen cars were parked by armed robbers on the Market Street.

    She said Kyari led a team of SARS Decoy Personnel to the area, saw the vehicles and laid 23-hour ambush before arresting the suspects when they came to pick the cars about 5am on December 16.

    The suspects made confessions. Jamiu said: “I am a professional driver. I did not carry gun; Otunola and Oyeyinka did. My role is to carry them to operations and back. I started robbery work less than three months ago. I am from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. I joined armed robbery gang to get money to start my own vulcanising workshop.”

    Oyeyinka, a native of Ibadan, Oyo State, said: “I am a bus conductor. When poverty wanted to play with my life, I joined armed robbery gang. I vowed not to shoot my victims but rather to intimidate them with gun to get what I want from them.

    “The victim wanted to come out of his house, but we rushed him in with gun. Indian hemp helped my operations. I have participated in car snatching thrice. The first one, we got 37 phone sets after a house-to-house operation. The second operation failed and we managed to escape alive when we heard of SARS operatives at the scene.”

    Ilorin, Kwara State-born Otunola said: “My work is wood cutting after bringing logs from forest. I became an armed robber when my dear mother took ill and I had no money to treat her. I have participated in armed robberies thrice. It was this last operation that put me into trouble. A buyer called me to look for somebody to get him good cars. He said one buyer called Ibadan needed two Camry cars, while one Baale also needed one. I contacted Jamiu, our gang leader, and we went to look for cars. I blame government for making me to take to armed robbery because it did not create jobs or good environment that could generate self-employment.”

  • Lawmakers seek peaceful Xmas

    Lawmakers seek peaceful Xmas

    Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday urged Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to direct appropriate security agencies, especially the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to strengthen security around Lagos Mainland as a result of cult activities and to ensure security of lives and property during the Yuletide.

    The House, which was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo also resolved that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, be invited to brief members on security challenges.

    The resolution followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance raised by a member, Moshood Oshun (Mainland I), that cultism had gone haywire in the area.

    He said a man was allegedly butchered in Bariga area in broad day-light, adding that cultists in higher institutions around the Mainland had moved into surrounding communities to initiate miscreants into their fold, leading to killings and counter killings.