The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akure

  • Police arrest soldier for hijacking fuel-laden truck in Oyo

    Police arrest soldier for hijacking fuel-laden truck in Oyo

    The Police Command in Oyo State has arrested a soldier serving at 81 Battalion, Makola, Ibadan, for allegedly hijacking a fuel-laden truck along  Akobo,Iwo road.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abiodun Odunde, made the disclosure in Ibadan while presenting the suspects to newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan on Friday.

    Odunde said that the soldier and three others were arrested on November 11 along Akobo, Iwo road, Ibadan.

    The commissioner said that investigation revealed that the gang was responsible for waylaying and subsequently hijacking trucks along the expressway.

    “The gang led by the soldier hijacked a 40,000 litre truck with registration number ABJ 132XA at about 9:30 p.m. and abducted the driver and the conductor.

    “They later took them to Omi-Adio after robbing them of their money and valuables and thereafter drove the truck to Akure/Ilesa road.

    Read also: Police arrest suspected killers of oil firm manager in Rivers

    “The alarm raised by the victim attracted some members of the community who alerted the police that led to their arrest and also recovered the truck,’’ Odude said.

    The police also presenteed 17 other suspects including an employee of George Investment Company, Ibadan, who stole six Sino trucks and a Toyota Camry car belonging to the company.

    Odude said that investigation conducted by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad led to the arrest of the suspect and one other in Edo and Abuja.

    The CP said that the six trucks were sold in Kaduna at the rate of N20 million while the Camry car was given to a yet-to-be identified pastor in Abuja.

    “As a result of diligent investigation by the SARS, all the trucks and two other cars were recovered and the criminal receiver also arrested.”

    10 other suspects were arrested for alleged stealing, cultism, armed robbery, unlawful possession of counterfeit currency and impersonation.

    Items recovered are two cut-to-size single barrel guns, two Laptop computers, eight mobile phones, a mask and charms.

    NAN

  • NSCDC arrests 60 suspects, convicts 10 in 3 months

    NSCDC arrests 60 suspects, convicts 10 in 3 months

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) Ondo State Command, said it arrested more than 60 suspects and secured the conviction of 10 people for various crimes within 100 days in the state.

    Mr Awili Pedro, the State Commandant of NSCDC, announced this on Friday during the commissioning of the divisional headquarters, ‘B’ Division of NSCDC in Iju, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

    Reports say  that the building is donated to NSCDC by the Iju Community in Akure North area.

    “Since my assumption of duty 100 days today, the command has held four press briefings and paraded over 60 suspects for various crimes, including vandalism, petroleum products adulteration and diversion.

    “Others are destruction of farm products by herdsmen, robbery, child abuse and trafficking, obtaining money under false pretence (419) and operation of private guard company without valid licence, to mention a few.

    “Within this period, we have recovered vandalised petroleum products, telecommunications and power equipment such as high tension cables, solar batteries and transformer accessories, including vehicles recovered from robbery suspects.

    Read also: NSCDC deploys personnel to filling stations

    “Most of these suspects are now facing trials and about 10 convictions have been secured within three months,” he said.

    Pedro said the command established quick response units of the corps on Ondo road in Akure and Uso and Emure-Ile communities which would be commissioned soon with the approval of the state government.

    He appreciated the state government and leaders of other sister agencies such as Brigade Commander, Director of DSS and Commissioner of Police for their positive interventions towards dislodging kidnapping and terrorist elements in Ondo North Senatorial districts and other parts of the state.

    “We enjoyed this synergy and unity of purpose in these operations that we are also a part of. It is our determination to continue to work in tandem with these sister agencies in making Ondo State a safe haven.

    “It is equally important to stress to this community, the need to collaborate with our personnel posted to work in this facility and indeed in the state.

    “We need timely information to enhance our effective service delivery,” he said.

    In his speech, Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, called on individuals to support government and security agencies in the state to eradicate crime in its 18 local government areas

    Akeredolu, who was represented by Mr Ifedayo Abegunde, Secretary to the State Government ( SSG ), appealed to NSCDC to fulfill its core mandate of protecting and securing both the civil population and government infrastructure and assets.

    “The commissioning of a divisional headquarters ‘B’ Division of NSCDC in Iju will go a long way in facilitating the peace, tranquility and security of the state as a whole and Akure North local government area in particular.

    “Since the entrenchment of peace and security is germane to the prosperity of a people, all hands must truly be on deck in supporting the extension of government security apparatus and services to the ancient town of Iju and its environs.

    “To this end, I deem it appropriate to admonish the ‘B’ division of the NSCDC to hit the ground running, by carrying out the duties effectively.

    NAN

  • NASU berates inadequate funding of libraries

    NASU berates inadequate funding of libraries

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions ( NASU ), has expressed dismay over inadequate funding of the National and State libraries across the country.

    Mr Micheal Adegoke, the Deputy National President of the union, said this at the end of the regular meeting of the WAEC/Libraries and Others Trade Groups in Lagos.

    Adegoke said that libraries, which served as gatekeepers, storehouses of knowledge and a critical element in the educational sector had been neglected.

    He said that there was no way the country could achieve the education for all if the present level of funding of the national and state-owned libraries was not drastically improved upon.

    He described as a national embarrassment, the present rented apartment of the National Library of Nigeria in Abuja and other parts of the country.

    Read also: NASU’s overreach

    The deputy president, therefore, called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the completion of the abandoned National Library of Nigeria Headquarters building, as a matter of utmost priority.

    Adegoke also urged the federal and state governments to improve funding of their libraries so that the aims and objectives of establishing them could be attained.

    He urged the intervention of Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND ) in the funding of libraries as it did for public institutions’ libraries.

    NASU and other varsities’ staff unions such as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ) and National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) are currently on strike nationwide.

    The unions are demanding that the Federal Government should release N30 billion to them as a condition to calling off their industrial action.

    “Government should release more funds to take care of the arrears of the earned allowance of the three non-teaching staff of universities and commence the immediate implementation of the allowances to forestall further accumulation of the arrears,’’ Mr Alfred Jimoh.

    Jimoh is the National Vice President of SSANU and made the call at a news briefing on December 15 in Akure, Ondo State.

    NAN

  • Petrol scarcity worsens in Akure

    Petrol scarcity worsens in Akure

    The fuel scarcity in Akure, Ondo State capital, and its environs, worsened yesterday, paralysing commercial activities.

    Most petrol dealers continue to ignore persistent jingles by officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) threatening to shut down fuel stations refusing to sell the product.

    Of about 60 fuel stations in Akure, only five dispensed the commodity to customers amid long queues.

    The development caused untold hardship to motorists and other users.

    Investigation showed that fuel dealers had stock but sell at night to maximise profit.

    Also in Akoko, a few petrol stations dispensed at between N160 to N170.

    Few vehicles and commercial motorcycles plied the streets of Ikare, Ugbe, Arigidi and Akungba.

    Many market women found it difficult to get to their markets.

    A woman leader and Are Iyalaje of Akoko, Mrs Risikat Mohammed, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to solve the fuel crisis.

    A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Ikare Akoko, Mukaila kokoori, dispelled rumours of fare hike, but urged fuel dealers not to hoard the product.

    An Anglican priest at Ikaram Akoko, Cannon Isaac Awowole, appealed to regulatory agencies to checkmate what he called the unpatriotic attitude of some fuel dealers.

    According to him, such dealers have the product but refuse to sell, while some increase the pump price “without the fear of God”.

    In neighbouring Ondo town, Owena-Ijesa, Ikeji-Ile-Ipetu-Ijesa-Erin-Ijesa and other parts of Osun State, fuel sellers were seeking patronage from customers.

    They were in operation and selling below N145 per litre.

  • FUTA alumnus wins mining prize

    Salami Oluwafemi Babatunde, a graduate of the Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure [FUTA] has clinched the first prize in a National Competition for the Best Graduating Student in Mining Engineering from Nigeria’s Higher Institutions in 2016.

    The competition was organised by the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers [NSME]. Students of mining Engineering and related disciplines from Universities and Polytechnics across the country were assessed by jurors who unanimously picked Salami as the overall best student of mining engineering in Nigeria.

    Dr Ebenezer Damisa, President NSME signed the letter of award on behalf of the Society.

    Salami got the Inuwa Gombe Prize, which attracted a plaque, certificate and cash prize of N100,000.

    The prize was presented to him at the opening ceremony of the 17th Annual General Meeting/International Conference of Mining Engineers in Kaduna recently.

    Presenting his plaque to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Fuwape, Salami, who graduated from FUTA with a first class, said he owed his success to the training he acquired as a student.

    “I thank God for my teachers and the qualitative education I received during my stay here.  FUTA is indeed a blessing to my academic endeavours,” he said.

    Congratulating him, the Vice-Chancellor praised Salami for the remarkable feat, describing it as an honour well deserved.

    He said “FUTA is proud of you.  I believe by the grace of God, you will go global, the sky is the limit,” he said, describing the prize as another attestation of FUTA’s position as the country’s leading University of Technology.

     

  • Security man found dead in Akure

    Security man found dead in Akure

    A man suspected to be a security officer was found dead yesterday near the multinational LG Electronics company on Pummeling Road in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The body of the deceased, identified simply as Taiwo, was found at the entrance to the company’s office.

    There was no sign of violence or robbery in the office to suggest the cause of his death.

    But some sympathisers said Taiwo might have had a cardiac arrest.

    Police officers attached to the ‘A’ Division in Akure cordoned off the area and moved the body to an undisclosed mortuary.

    A worker at the company, who spoke in confidence, said the late Taiwo did not show any sign of illness before the close of work on Tuesday.

    Expressing shock over Taiwo’s death, the worker noted that there was no form of injury or mark on the body of the deceased.

    He said: “He (Taiwo) was our security man in this office. He has been doing it for some time. We were together yesterday before we departed for our homes after work. He was lively and agile; he showed no sign of sickness.

    “We came this morning (yesterday) and found his body here. This is is shocking and unfortunate.”

    A woman, who said the deceased lived in her house, said he was too young to work as a security because of his age.

    The woman said she had warned him against taking up the job because of what she called “the peculiarities attached to being a security guard”.

  • Security man found dead in Akure

    Security man found dead in Akure

    A middle aged man suspected to be a security officer was found dead Wednesday near the Multinational LG electronics company, along Pummeling road, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The corpse of the security man, identified simply as Taiwo was found dead at the entrance of the company’s office.

    It was observed that there was no form of violence or robbery at the office that might have caused his death, but symphatisers sensed cardiac arrest.

    Police officers attached to the A’ Division in Akure condoned off the area and moved the dead body to the mortuary.

    A staff of the organization, who spoke in confidence said the late Taiwo was active in the office and show no sign of any illness before the close of work on Tuesday.

    While expressing shock over the death of the security man, he noted that there was no form of injury or mark in his body.

    According to him, “He is our security man for this office and he has been doing it for some time now. We were together yesterday before we departed for our different homes after work.

    “He was so lively and agile and he showed no sign of sickness

    For us to come this morning now and found his dead body here is shocking and unfortunate”.

    A woman, who said the deceased stayed in her house said he was too young to work as a security because of his age.

    The woman, said that he had warned him against taken up the job because of what she described ‘as the peculiarities attached to being a security guard’

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, Femi Joseph said the command had begun investigation to unravel the cause of the death.

    The PPRO added that some workers of the office had been invited for further interrogation.

  • Akure monarch’s driver crushes two siblings

    The pilot driver attached to the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, has allegedly crushed two siblings to death.

    The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday in Akure, Ondo State capital.

    It was learnt that the incident involved the monarch’s pilot driver and two cyclists.

    The accident, sources said, occurred when the driver was reportedly trailing a man who allegedly parked “illegally” in front of the palace.

    Although the identities of the deceased were unknown, it was gathered that they were on a motorcycle from Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area, and heading to Idanre, about 15 kilometres from Akure.

    It was learnt that a private car owner parked in front of the palace and the security men ordered him to move the car but he was said to have refused.

    This prompted the security men to alert the monarch’s driver about the situation.

    It was learnt that in a bid for the man to escape arrest, he allegedly zoomed off and hit a passer-by.

    Disturbed by the development, the monarch’s driver trailed the car down to Italorun village on Akure-Idanre Road, where he reportedly crushed the two cyclists to death in an attempt to catch up with the “run-away” car owner.

    Eyewitness said one of victims, identified as two brothers, died instantly, while the second died a few hours after being admitted at an undisclosed hospital.

    The incident was said to have caused commotion in the area.

    Villagers were said to have attempted to burn the monarch’s pilot car but for the intervention of security agents in the area.

    The Chief Press Secretary  to the monarch, Michael Adeyeye, said the accident occurred outside the palace.

    He added: “The matter has been resolved and there is no cause for alarm.”

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the incident had not been reported at the state command.

    He promised to get details on the incident.

  • Ondo Govt. tasks NPA on modern facilities

    Ondo Govt. tasks NPA on modern facilities

    The Ondo State Government, has tasked the Nigeria Ports Authority ( NPA ) to provide modern facilities for its operations so that the 48-hour clearance target at the ports could come to a reality.

    Mr Timehin Adelegbe, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative Services, made this appeal on Friday in Akure at a one-day seminar, organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council.

    The theme of the seminar was: “Economic Regulation: Facilitation of a New Port Order in Export and Import Trade.’’

    Adelegbe said that the reduction of trade barriers must be accompanied by other policies and institutional reforms that would enhance investments in the local environment as well as growth in productivity.

    The commissioner said that such a sustainable programme required a mutually-reinforcing policies geared towards the promotion of sustainable growth.

    He enjoined the Federal Government to support the yearning of the State Government and its citizenry on the establishment of a seaport in the coastal area of the state.

    According to him, the state is an agrarian society that supplies a reliable percentage of the Nigeria’s agricultural produce.

    Adelegbe assured potential investors that the present Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu administration would continue to create the necessary enabling economic environment for investment.

    He, therefore, urged the participants to examine all issues discussed with objectivity and come up with relevant recommendations that would assist the government and others interested in maritime trade.

    “Ondo State will always play its roles effectively in rendering adequate support for all programmes that would assist in improving international trade to the state.

    “For instance, in view of the importance of export and import trade to the development of our nation, Ondo State has put in place some structures to facilitate the ease of doing business,” he said.

    He listed the measures to include: the ease of obtaining Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for land acquisition and the establishment of the Ondo State Development and Investment Agency.

    According to him, these measures are expected to guide investors and accelerate the pace of industrial development in the state.

    NAN

  • Robbers burgle Air Peace office in Ondo

    Robbers burgle Air Peace office in Ondo

    Suspected armed bandits have reportedly burgled the office of the Air Peace Airline at the domestic airport in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    The Airline establishment began commercial operation between Lagos and Akure about three months ago.

    The robbers, sources said on Sunday night, acted on information and made away with the money vault containing millions of naira.

    They were said to have also stolen some personal items that belonged to the staff of the Airline.

    Numbering four, the hoodlums were said to have entered into the Airport on Owo-Akure road through a bush path and went straight to break into the Air Peace office.

    It was learnt that the robbery was reported at the Oba-Ile Police Station in Akure North local government area.

    An employee of the Airline who spoke in confidence to reporters Wednesday said that some staff of the local airline resumed on Monday to discover the theft.

    He said the stolen money which was concealed inside the big vault was the proceed of tickets sold between Friday and Sunday last week.