The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Ebonyi crisis: Police arrest two monarchs, 11 others over communal violence

    Ebonyi crisis: Police arrest two monarchs, 11 others over communal violence

    The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two traditional rulers from the Amasiri community over the recent communal crisis involving the neighbouring Okporojo community.

    The violence, allegedly masterminded by elements from Amasiri, reportedly claimed the lives of five persons. Okporojo is located in Edda Local Government Area, while Amasiri is in Afikpo North Local Government Area. Both communities have been locked in a decades-long boundary dispute that has resulted in repeated loss of lives.

    In response to the incident, Governor Francis Nwifuru at the weekend imposed a 20-hour curfew on the Amasiri community, alongside other stringent sanctions. He also ordered the closure of all schools and government facilities in the area, including the development centre.

    The governor further announced plans to forward a bill to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly seeking the removal of the Amasiri Development Centre from the list of recognised development centres in the state.

    He also dismissed all political appointees from the community and approved the dethronement of the two traditional rulers.

    Confirming the arrests on Monday, the police spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, told journalists that the Development Centre Coordinator, Mr Baron Anya, had been taken into custody.

    He also confirmed the arrest of the traditional rulers—Ezeugo Basil Onya Idam of Amasiri Autonomous Community and Ezeogo Godfrey Obia Oko of Ndukwe Kingdom.

    Ukandu added that 10 other suspects arrested over the weekend in connection with the killings are currently in police custody as investigations continue.

    Meanwhile, a former chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area and current member of the Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Obiageri Oko Enyim, has urged residents of Amasiri to remain calm and pursue peace through lawful means.

    In a statement, Enyim said the governor’s response was based on what he personally observed on the ground and should not come as a surprise, noting that any leader would react firmly after witnessing such a situation.

    She cautioned against confronting or challenging the governor’s decisions, warning that such actions could further escalate tensions. According to her, the deployment of security personnel to the area was aimed at restoring peace between the two communities and not targeted at Amasiri alone.

    Enyim called on residents, including those in the diaspora, to adopt dialogue, patience and respectful engagement, stressing that justice cannot be achieved through disorder or confrontation.

    She appealed for calm and unity, urging all parties to seek a peaceful resolution through dialogue, adding that restraint and wisdom are essential to ending the long-standing dispute and restoring stability to the affected communities.

  • Five common deadly snakes to watch out for in toilets, septic tanks, kitchens, others

    Five common deadly snakes to watch out for in toilets, septic tanks, kitchens, others

    The recurrence of snakes in homes in the past few days has gotten many Nigerians worried and in search of how such dreaded situations could be prevented.

    The death of Ifunanya, also known as Nanyah, and fondly called the “Soprano Queen,” has since sparked intense public debate, with many Nigerians questioning how a preventable death could happen in the nation’s capital due to the unavailability of life-saving anti-venom.

    In 2021, Nigeria’s health ministry disclosed that an average of 20,000 cases of snake bites are recorded in Nigeria every year.

    Also, about 2,000 people die from snakebites annually, and over 1,700 lose their legs or arms as a result of snake bites.

    Snake bite particularly affects the most vulnerable members of society – often those living in remote rural areas, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)

    Snakebite “poisoning”, known as envenomation, has long been a public health problem in Nigeria, especially in rural areas.

    There are three main types of snake species responsible for envenomation in Nigeria.

    The Cobra or Naja nigricolis, the Puff Adder or Bitis arietans, and the Carpet Viper or Echis ocellatus.

    The Carpet Viper is the one responsible for most, about 90 per cent of bites and 60 per cent of snakebite deaths.

    Snakes can enter a building for one of two reasons. Either for food or for temperature.

    Rats, mice, and even squirrels are frequent prey for snakes, and if there are a lot of them around, they may bring snakes to your home. Snakes will follow these prey into your home and look for a place where they can readily hunt them, such as septic tanks, toilets, and the kitchen.

    On the other hand, snakes, like all reptiles, are cold-blooded (ectothermic). They regulate their body temperature by warming up in the sun and cooling down in the shade.

    When they live in septic tanks, they usually swim upward through the pipes to find a warmer spot to regulate their temperature and then find a cooler place to regulate their temperature if it becomes too hot.

    There are a few things you can do to keep snakes away from your home, the first of which is to remove what attracts them. Mice, rats, and other rodents should be kept out of the house as much as possible.

    Snakes can also be repelled with homemade repellants, such as a garlic-onion mixture.

    These two plants contain sulfonic acid, the chemical that causes one to cry while chopping them.

    Adding oil to the mixture would make it more potent and can be sprayed on snake-prone areas such as basements, behind appliances, toilet corners, chicken coops, and other areas. This mixture, however, has to be applied at least twice a month for effectiveness.

    Read Also: Tell guild leaders about deadly movie locations, Ernest Obi tells actors

    Any reptile living in the toilet bowl or creeping up the pipe will be dislodged by pouring a reasonable amount of vinegar into it. It could also send them out of bodies of water in or around your property (pools).

    It’s also crucial to get rid of any potential hiding spots in your home. Trim grasses on a regular basis, and move heaps of materials (woods, rubbers, grasses, and so on) more frequently.

    Check your home for cracks, damaged screens, and other potential entry points so snakes can’t get inside. Coop and other outbuildings are in the same boat. They can slither into extremely small spaces, so make every effort to seal any gaps they can find.

    Here are the common types of deadly snakes to watch out for:

    1. Black-necked spitting cobra

    2. Spotted night puff adder

    3. Blanding’s catsnake

    4. Roman’s carpet viper

    5. West African carpet viper

  • Simba, LAPO MFB partner to expand asset financing for mobility entrepreneurs

    Simba, LAPO MFB partner to expand asset financing for mobility entrepreneurs

    Simba Group, the exclusive distributor of TVS Tricycles (popularly known as Keke) and motorcycles in Nigeria, has entered into a strategic partnership with LAPO Microfinance Bank to unlock wider access to asset-backed financing for hardworking Nigerians who depend on tricycles and motorcycles for their livelihoods.

    Renowned for its commitment to quality, durability, fuel efficiency, and a robust nationwide after-sales network, Simba Group is partnering with one of Nigeria’s largest and most trusted microfinance institutions to make vehicle ownership more attainable for individuals, micro-entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the country. Together, both organizations are driving financial inclusion and empowering more Nigerians to own the tools they need to earn, grow, and thrive.

    The collaboration brings together Simba Group’s long-standing presence in Nigeria’s mobility sector and LAPO Microfinance Bank’s deep expertise in financial inclusion, with a shared objective of empowering entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals operating within the transport and mobility value chain.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Laveen Gupta from Simba Group highlighted the company’s deep-rooted commitment to Nigeria and its impact on everyday mobility.

    “Simba Group has been in Nigeria for over four decades, and every day, more than 30 million Nigerians interact with Simba mobility products,” he said. “This partnership with LAPO Microfinance Bank reinforces our mission to empower more Nigerians by making reliable mobility solutions more accessible for sustainability and daily livelihoods.”

    Read Also: LAPO MfB names Aghimien non-executive director

    Under the MoU, LAPO Microfinance Bank will provide asset-backed financing solutions to Riders who want TVS Tricycles (Keke) for income generation and Individuals who want TVS Motocycles (Bike) for personal mobility. The initiative is designed to lower entry barriers for operators by offering structured financing that enables beneficiaries to acquire productive assets while earning sustainable incomes.

    The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of LAPO Microfinance Bank, Mrs Cynthia Ikponmwosa, said the partnership aligns with the bank’s longstanding focus on supporting micro-entrepreneurs and economically active Nigerians.

    “LAPO Microfinance Bank is committed to supporting entrepreneurs who depend on TVS Tricycles and motorcycles as a means of livelihood,” she stated. “Through asset-backed facilities, we are enabling them to acquire these assets in a structured way, so they can earn, grow, and improve their quality of life.”

    Beyond access to finance, the partnership is expected to deepen financial inclusion by offering affordable financing options, competitive interest rates, and repayment tenors tailored to the realities of mobility-based businesses. Special attention is also being given to expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs through the “Simba TVS Queen Riders’ initiative” across the country. The partnership represents a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s informal transport sector, which employs millions and plays a critical role in last-mile mobility.

    With aligned values around empowerment and impact, the Simba Group–LAPO Microfinance Bank partnership is poised to drive inclusive growth, enhance productivity, and improve livelihoods across Nigeria’s mobility ecosystem.

    At Simba TVS, we empower lives, while LAPO improves lives!!! Therefore, the partnership is all about improved and better quality of life for Nigerians.

  • LAWMA warns against attacks on enforcement officers

    LAWMA warns against attacks on enforcement officers

    Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has warned the public against attacking, harassing or obstructing its enforcement officers.

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, expressed concern over recent incidents in which its personnel were allegedly threatened or assaulted on duty, describing such actions as unacceptable.

    He said enforcement officers were deployed to safeguard public health, ensure compliance with waste management regulations and maintain cleanliness.

    Gbadegesin stressed that any violence, intimidation or interference with enforcement would be resisted.

    He noted that LAWMA’s enforcement is backed by the state Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, adding that individuals or groups found attacking officers or disrupting lawful operations would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

    READ ALSO: The men who ruined a republic

    The LAWMA boss urged residents to cooperate with the Authority’s officials, comply with approved waste disposal guidelines and report environmental infractions through appropriate channels rather than resorting to confrontation or self-help.

    He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to firm but fair enforcement, sustained public engagement and the protection of its personnel, while calling on community leaders, market associations and transport unions to support efforts aimed at promoting order, safety and environmental responsibility across the state.

    “LAWMA remains resolute in its mandate to deliver a cleaner, healthier and more liveable city for all residents,” he said.

  • EFCC arrests estate agent over N67m ‘fraud’

    EFCC arrests estate agent over N67m ‘fraud’

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a Lagos businessman, Alhaji Olakazeem Tijani, for an alleged land scam worth over N67 million.

    Tijani was arrested last Friday at Igando following a petition from his victim, Adekoya, dated July 14, last year.

    The suspect, it was gathered, was trailed by operatives for several months following his alleged refusal to honour lawful invitations by the EFCC and other security services.

    Adekoya in the petition submitted to EFCC’s Awolowo Road, Ikoyi office, accused Tijani and his firm, Latokatz Limited, of fraudulent misrepresentation, obtaining money under false pretence, criminal breach of trust, forgery and conversion of funds.

    He alleged that the claims arose from transactions carried out between February 2023 and January. last year, stating that he transferred over N67million from his bank accounts into Latokatz Limited’s Zenith Bank account for the purchase of properties and for construction.

    The payments, he stated, were made in two tranches: N44 million for the purported purchase of an uncompleted building in Isheri-Idimu, two shop units at Olugbede Market in Egbeda, and an acre of land along the Atan-Badagry axis; and N23 million for construction at a property in Isheri North GRA, OPIC, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    READ ALSO: Mutfwang, Plateau APC and 2027 battle

    Adekoya alleged that the transactions were based on mutual trust and documents presented to him as proof of ownership and authority to sell the properties. However, he claimed that subsequent investigations showed that Tijani allegedly had no legal authority to sell the properties and that some of them did not exist. He further alleged that the documents presented to him were forged or unlawfully obtained.

    “I have all evidence of payments, transfers and instructions made to the Latokatz Limited Zenith Bank account,” the petitioner said, adding that despite repeated demands, no refund had been made.

    He also referenced an undertaking allegedly signed by Tijani on April 13, last year, at the palace of the Oba of Isheri-Olofin, where the dispute was initially reported. Under the agreement,Tijani was said to have promised to refund ₦44 million on or before June 8, 2025. Adekoya claimed the undertaking was not honoured.

    Citing sections of the Criminal Code Act, including provisions on obtaining under false pretence, stealing and conversion, as well as forgery and uttering of documents, the petitioner urged the EFCC to investigate the matter, arrest and prosecute the suspect, and recover the money allegedly defrauded him.

    The petition listed several documents attached in support of the claims, including bank statements, payment receipts, deeds of assignment, letters of allocation, surveys, correspondence and the alleged refund undertaking.

    Spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed Tijani’s arrest, adding that he was still in the commission’s custody in Lagos.

    Lawyer to Tijani, Kolade Alo, said it was a case of misunderstanding between the suspect and complainant, declining further comments on the issue.

  • Alleged perpetrators of Benue killings for arraignment today

    Alleged perpetrators of Benue killings for arraignment today

    Some suspects arrested in connection with killings in Yelwata, a town in Benue State, will be arraigned today before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Media aide to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

    Ogundele said the decision to arraign the suspects followed “a painstaking investigation and collaboration by government agencies.”

    READ ALSO: The men who ruined a republic

    He added that “the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to assure Nigerians that Justice will be ensured in the matter to send a strong signal to the enemies of the country, acting under any disguise.

    “The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the protection of lives and property of all as enshrined in the constitution.”

  • NDLEA intercepts Brazil returnee with cocaine concealed in thigh, shoe soles

    NDLEA intercepts Brazil returnee with cocaine concealed in thigh, shoe soles

    A Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja-Lagos for concealing parcels of cocaine in his thigh and soles of his footwear.

    Babafemi said when the 47-year-old suspect was taken for body scan, the result confirmed illicit drug concealment.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said Onyekwere was arrested last Thursday during the clearance of South African Airways flight passengers coming from Brazil via Johannesburg.

    He said during a strip search a big parcel of white powdery substance, which later tested positive for cocaine, was discovered wrapped around his right thigh. A further search brought out two additional wraps of the same substance hidden in the sole of his shoes worn, totalling three wraps of cocaine, with a gross weight of 1.60 kilograms.

    He said the suspect confessed that he bought the illicit drug in Brazil to resell it in Nigeria to raise capital for his business and the naming ceremony of his baby.

    The suspect has been in Brazil since 2008 and has been operating a toy business for about nine years.

    Also, Babafemi said at the Tin Can Seaport in Lagos, a total of 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 1,183 kilograms imported from Montreal, Canada in a container, was discovered last Wednesday, during an examination of the shipment by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies.

    READ ALSO: Mutfwang, Plateau APC and 2027 battle

    He said the consignments were hidden in two vehicles: a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix car.

     In Niger State, NDLEA agency nabbed on January 26, this year, a long truck marked T 31589 LA on Dei-Dei Abuja Expressway, where they arrested Andy Chidogu, 49; Kenneth Ogene, 45; and Sadiq Olanrewaju, 27, for conveying 176 bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 2,735 kilograms and one kilogram of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, concealed in the truck.

     Ogene, who drove the truck, had left Lagos with 800 bags of flour to Ekpoma, Edo State and arrived the following day, January 24. At Ekpoma, he negotiated to ferry the 176 bags of skunk and 1kg colos for N1.7million

    In another operation, NDLEA operatives in Edo State on Tuesday arrested Shaibu Yusuf on Auchi-Abuja Express Road while looking for a vehicle to convey 66 bags of skunk concealed in bags of charcoal, weighing 792kg, to Katsina.

    Babafemi said also, in Edo, operatives supported by Nigerian Army personnel last Wednesday raided a cannabis farm at  Ebora camp, Ilushi in Esan Southeast Local Government Area where 4,063.675kg skunk was destroyed on over 1.6 hectares of farmland while 328kg processed cannabis and its seeds were recovered.

    Suspects arrested at the camp include Jeremiah Nwodeh, 46; Chukwudi Pius,33; Pius Ogaba, 46; and Onora Kwene, 35.

    Babafemi said: “In Anambra State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 28th January intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka Onitsha, heading to Nkpor in which 345.2kg skunk was found. The drug was owned by Abum Okeke, 42, one of the three occupants of the truck.

    Also arrested were Tunde Ogundele, 39, and Soji Elegbelye, 46 at Eleyewo community in Akure North of Ondo State, in connection with the seizure of 473kg skunk, while NDLEA operatives in Kano on same day nabbed Abdullahi Usman, 45, at Murtala Mohammed Way, with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection . Not less than 4,390 pills of tramadol were seized from Musa Shuaibu, 42, in Gaya of Kano on January 27.

    While Oragwan Ekene was arrested last Friday at Okeyson Park, Alaba, Lagos, with 15.5kg skunk heading to Onitsha, Anambra State with the illicit consignment, 3.5kg of same psychoactive substance was recovered from a sound system and two packets of cereal found in the luggage of Omang Peter Edward at the arrival tarmac of Seme border, Badagry on January 27. The suspect was coming from Cotonou, Benin Republic into Lagos.

     Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the officers and enjoined them and their colleagues to continue  the good works.

  • Police illegally released my husband’s body, widow alleges

    Police illegally released my husband’s body, widow alleges

    Widow of the late businessman and politician, Bamidele Akingboye, Mrs Christiana Akingboye, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of unlawfully releasing her husband’s body.

    Citing the Coroner’s System Law of Lagos State, she maintained that the police’s role is investigatory and ends upon completion of the post-mortem and issuance of legal advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    According to her, following the family’s exoneration by the DPP, there was no authority for the police to release the body to third parties.

    In an appeal to President Bola Tinubu, the Senate and Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mrs Akingboye alleged that the conduct of the Police after her husband’s death amounted to abuse of power, breach of due process and a deliberate marginalisation of the deceased’s immediate family.

    She stated that following investigations, the DPP issued legal advice exonerating her and her children, effectively bringing any lawful police involvement to an end.

    According to her, there was no criminal justification for further interference by the Police.

    READ ALSO: The men who ruined a republic

    Mrs Akingboye alleged that confidential investigative documents, including the DPP’s legal advice, were leaked online and circulated by a foreign-based blogger before the police communicated the outcome to her or her children.

    “The police have not communicated the outcome of the investigation to us till date. We only read about it online,” she said.

    The widow further accused the police of mishandling her late husband’s personal effects.

    She said her husband’s mobile phones were collected from her as evidence, alongside his medications.

    According to her, the phones were later released to her estranged stepson, while the drugs collected from her have not been returned.

    She added that repeated demands for the return of the deceased’s belongings were ignored, raising concerns that investigative protocols and the chain of custody were compromised.

    Mrs Akingboye said her lawyers wrote to the Police and morgue, warning that neither her husband’s body nor his personal effects should be released to any person without the consent of the immediate family or an order of court.

    Despite this, she said officers at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, invited both parties to a meeting on January 23.

    She explained that the only issue concluded at the meeting was the return of her family’s passports, which were handed over, adding that the Police promised to convene another meeting the following week to address outstanding issues.

    “Till now, no one has called us,” she said.

    Days later, Mrs Akingboye said the family learnt from a family source that the remains of her husband had been released quietly to her estranged stepson and unknown persons, without notice to her, her consent and any court order.

    She added that the phones and medications collected from her are also yet to be returned.

    Citing the Coroner’s System Law of Lagos State, she maintained that the police’s role is strictly investigatory and ends upon completion of the post-mortem and issuance of legal advice by the DPP.

    She argued that following the family’s exoneration, there was no lawful authority for the police to release the body to third parties.

    Mrs Akingboye alleged that while her estranged stepson enjoyed preferential access and outcomes, the widow and children of the deceased were misled and kept in the dark.

    She said several petitions were written to the Inspector-General of Police, but none resulted in restraint or accountability.

    Expressing concern for her safety and that of her children, Mrs Akingboye called on the President, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions and the IGP to order an independent investigation, insisting that Nigeria must not allow power to override justice, even in death.

  • Lagos bans okada on coastal highway

    Lagos bans okada on coastal highway

    The Lagos State government has banned commercial motorcycle (okada) operations, one-way driving, and illegal structures on the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway corridor.

    Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this known on his X handle that operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Task force carried out the operation as part of ongoing efforts to restore order and improve safety on major roads across the state.

    READ ALSO: The men who ruined a republic

    Wahab said; “Over 50 motorcycles were confiscated for riding on the highway in violation of the Lagos State traffic law, while 10 vehicles were apprehended and charged to court for driving against traffic.”

    He noted that the exercise also included the removal of shanties and makeshift structures illegally erected on the coastal highway.

    He further stated that enforcement would be sustained to restore sanity on the road.

  • Police arrest ‘Okada rider’ for raping five females at gunpoint in Ondo

    Police arrest ‘Okada rider’ for raping five females at gunpoint in Ondo

    The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended a suspected serial rapist and armed robbery suspect, Olamipekun Elegbeleye, for allegedly sexually assaulting and robbing several women in Akure, the state capital.

    The suspect, a commercial motorcyclist otherwise known as “Okada Rider,” was said to have lured his female victims under false pretences before attacking and raping them at gunpoint.

    Confirming the arrest in a statement on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said the suspect was apprehended following credible intelligence and technical tracking by operatives of the Command.

    According to him, one of the incidents occurred on November 21, 2025, at about 11:30 a.m., when the suspect allegedly offered a female victim a ride on his TVS motorcycle to Afunbiowo Housing Estate, Oke Aro.

    He, however, reportedly diverted into a nearby bush where he sexually assaulted the victim at gunpoint and dispossessed her of her valuables.

    READ ALSO: Okpebholo’s weekend surprise for three workers

    According to him, police investigations later revealed that the suspect allegedly used the same method and location to assault and rob four other female victims.

    “The suspect reportedly diverted into a nearby bush where he sexually assaulted the victim at gunpoint and dispossessed her of her valuables.

    “Further investigation revealed that the suspect had, in a similar manner and at the same location, allegedly sexually assaulted and robbed four other female victims.

    “Acting on credible intelligence and technical tracking, operatives of the Command apprehended the suspect at his hideout,” he said.

    Items recovered from the suspect include two SIM cards, two iPhones, a shirt, and Opay and Moniepoint ATM cards believed to belong to the victims.

    Abayomi further disclosed that the suspect allegedly transferred money from one of the victims’ bank accounts into another account without authorization.

    He, however, added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and assured residents that perpetrators of violent and sexual crimes would be tracked and prosecuted.