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Tag: Akute

  • Vandals having field day in Akute, residents allege

    Residents of Denro Road in Akute have decried the unabated activities of petroleum pipeline vandals who have been on the prowl since September 29.

    It was learnt that the criminals had on daily basis siphoned Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) between 12:30 am and 4am from a valve near Denro Market with no resistance from operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who are supposed to keep 24-hour watch of the pipeline.

    According to some of the residents who spoke to The Nation on Tuesday their major worries were the offensive odour of petrol that usually choked them each time the vandals commenced their criminal activity as well as the fear of a fire outbreak.

    Although operatives of the Nigerian Army visited the community on September 30, a day after the vandals began operating there, The Nation learnt that the criminals have continued their action.

    A man whose name cannot be stated for safety reasons alleged that the criminals have the backing of security operatives, adding “the operate without fear and even fire warning shots some times to scare residents.”

    The man told The Nation that the vandals usually came with two tankers, adding that before they begin their operation, they will flash their torches across people’s homes to be sure no one was watching.

    He said: “There is an NSCDC tent in Akute yet these vandals come and operate as though someone is backing them. They do not hide and are not afraid.

    “They usually spoke in loud voices and they come every night. The place I am talking about is by the Pipeline Bus Stop. Before they used to operate inside the bush part but it seems that place is no longer safe for them.

    “Since September 29, we have not had peaceful night here. After soldiers came when they first started, the vandals returned the next day and released gunshots. At first we thought they were security people but some of us spied and saw their tankers that was how we knew it was the criminals.”

    Read Also: Barber ‘rapes’ six-year-old girl in Ogun

    Another resident said the odour from the PMS was affecting his pregnant wife, appealing to the government to deploy soldiers permanently to the place.

    He said: “My wife is pregnant and that odour chokes her every night. I am begging the government to send soldiers to that place. Let soldiers go and mount surveillance there because it seems the other security have compromised.

    “Also, I do not know why the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation left that place unlocked. It is not just a pipeline. That place is like a control. The vandals go there, open the valves and when they are fine stealing fuel, they lock it and leave.

    “There was a day they left it open and fled. It seems they got information that security people were coming. If nothing is done soon, we will die of pollution or even a fire outbreak.

    “One night I climbed on my bed to peep around 1am and I saw them on top of the tankers pointing their torch to people’s homes to see if anyone was awake.

    “Also on Saturday night, around 12:30 am, I overheard them questioning a man who seemed to have returned late. The vandals are not afraid. It seems they have strong backing.”

    Contacted, NSCDC Commandant in Ogun Everestus Obiyo said he was only aware of the September 29 incident and that the command was investigating.

    Obiyo who faulted the residents for not arresting the vandals on the spot, said they should have at least contacted security operatives while the operation was ongoing.

    Reminded of the residents allegation that the vandals usually fired gunshots, Obiyo said: “Such an incident cannot be tolerated. There is no way I will know of an incident like that and allow it. The residents should be sharp and arrest the vandals but if they cannot, they should at least call us while the operation is on.”

    Asked if there were no NSCDC operatives at the particular point he said: “We have a tent over there and my men are on 24-hour surveillance. I have also called them now to put them on their toes. I am only aware of the incident of September 29 which the army came to address. No arrest has been made yet but we are investigating.”

  • Fatality rate in Ogun drops by 38.5% in 2017- FRSC

    Fatality rate in Ogun drops by 38.5% in 2017- FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) on Friday said that the fatality rate from road crashes in Ogun declined from 270 in 2016 to 166 in 2017.

    Mr Clement Oladele, the Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, made this known at the 12th Annual Road Safety Walk in Lagos.

    The Safety Walk entitled “Safer Mental Health and Safety Roads’’, was organised by Ogun FRSC in collaboration with Temidayo Ogan Child Safety and Support ( TOCSS ) Foundation.

    The Safety Walk covered Alagbo-Ile, Akute, Ojodu Abiodun and Yakoyo.

    Oladele said that the theme was in line with the FRSC’s slogan and United Nations’ slogan for Road Safety 2011 to 2020.

    The sector commander said that the fatality rate declined from 307 in 2015 to 166 in 2017 due to safety awareness and cooperation from the stakeholders.

    Oladele said that there was the need to do more by educating the public on safety issues to be cautious.

    He, however, implored motorists with unstable mind to desist from driving in order not to endanger the lives of other road users.

    “We encourage people to have a stable mind.

    “If you know that you have family problems or you just lost your job, you are advised not to drive because you are as dangerous as the man who is drunk,” he said.

    Read also: FRSC sensitises on safe driving

    Oladele also advised passengers to report drivers found with intoxicant materials like drugs and alcohol to the appropriate channels for necessary sanctions.

    “We have observed that some drivers would not take intoxicant materials from the garage but asked someone to give them on their way to their destinations,” he said.

    The sector commander urged other corporate organisations to partner with the FRSC with their resources, to further bring down the fatality rate from crashes.

    Oladele commended the Foundation for its consistent partnership with the FRSC over the years in promoting safety and creating awareness for the people.

    Mrs Temidayo Ogan, the Executive Director of TOCSS, said that incessant increase in road crashes had been attributed to poor mental health and other related factors.

    Ogan said that general mental health status like anxieties, personality disorders and moodiness, among others, had great adverse effects on road safety.

    “I urge motorists to be sound minded and be in good health before driving.

    She advised motorists to desist from taking intoxicants and avoid what would prevent them from sleeping in order to have sound mind while driving.

    “Every road user requires 100 per cent mental health and concentration level to avoid road incidents and crashes while using the highways. ‘’ Ogan said.

    She, however, appealed to the Federal Government to assist persons living with common or uncommon mental health conditions so as to ensure sanity and safety on the roads.

    NAN

  • Peaklane celebrates class of champions

    The Balmoral Hall of Peaklane College, Akute in Ogun State, teamed with family and guests last Wednesday who came to felicitate with the 156 SS3 graduands of the school called the class of champions.

    The joy of completing six years of secondary education was crowned with excellent performance in the recently-released May/June 2017 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    Even though not all the results had been released to the school, its Director, Mrs Ify Nwachukwu, told The Nation in an interview that all the 60 pupils who had checked their results recorded A1 in Mathematics.

    She attributed the good performance to the dedication of the teachers in preparing the pupils for excellence.

    “So far, they have released 60 out of the results.  The least we have seen so far is three As.  All of them finished with A1 in Mathematics.  That is our strength.  We give our students adequate exposure to Additional (Further Mathematics).  Even Art students are made to do the subject in SS1 and SS2 just to strengthen their maths.  They can drop it in SS3.  We do extra classes at no additional cost in the evenings and at weekends,” she said.

    In her speech, Mrs Nwachukwu thanked the teachers for their hard work, saying: “I also want to thank the entire staff of the school for diligently pursuing the fulfillment of our set goals and objectives geared towards providing an enduring learning experience for our students.”

    Addressing the graduands, former presidential spokesperson and renowned columnist, Dr Rueben Abati, told them to be deliberate in their actions as they would reap the fruit whether for good or for bad.

    Sharing his own story, Abati told the graduands that his father, rather than celebrate him when he excelled, used to tell him his success was for himself.  He said he did not understand it for a long time but he continued to work hard. Today, he said he has five Masters degrees in various disciplines, charging the graduands to cultivate success as a habit.

    “Everybody talks about success, but success is a habit. That means you must be focused and hardworking. You must work smart, set objectives and pursue them with determinations, he said.

    In her goodwill message, a parent and guest speaker, Mrs B. Makinde, urged the graduands to imbibe the values of honesty, disciplined, hard work, dedication, humility and faith.

    Chairman of the school’s Parent- Teacher Association, Mr Gboyega Oloniyo, said the young ones had been trained to be good leaders and hoped they would get a chance to display their talent in Nigeria.

    “My only fear is that people that have gone before them should create the political space for them to manifest what they have been imbued with. I am so sure that this nation will come out of the wood very soon with the quality of education children are getting in this school,” he said.

    Highpoint of the event was the presentation of prizes to deserving graduands and pupils in other classes.  The ovation was loudest for Oluwatimileyin Oyeniran, the overall best graduating pupil.

  • Midday rain locks Ogun community

    Midday rain locks Ogun community

    A midday rain on Tuesday locked down Akute community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun state.

    The rain,  which fell intermittently for about 15minutes, was not really heavy but succeeded in locking down every route as commuters had to take off shoes to work through the flood.

    Motorists could not immediately attempt the flood until it receded after about five minutes.

    Video soon…

     

     

  • ‘Please, help me stay alive,’ man begs Nigerians

    ‘Please, help me stay alive,’ man begs Nigerians

    • Needs N10 million for kidney transplant
    When in September 2015, Mr. Henry Oshogue, felt some form of weakness of the body, his initial assumption was malaria fever. Little did he know that two months down the lane, he would have to struggle for his life at a very high cost.
    According to Oshogue, a welder by profession, after treating malaria and still no improvement, he had to visit the hospital where he was tested and referred to a medical laboratory for further checks.
    But the results of the various tests carried out on him at the Afri-Global laboratory, in Ikeja, Lagos, in November last year, revealed that Oshogue’s kidneys had packed up and no longer functions. This discovery has now left his continued living hanging in the balance.
    Oshogue told The Nation that the ailment has taken a huge toll on his finances as he has to go in for dialysis. He explained that at the Renal Dialysis Center, Ikeja, where he goes for his dialysis, a session of the procedure cost him N45, 000, and he requires three sessions weekly to stay alive.
    “I have exhausted all my resources on the treatment of this ailment. It is only my church, The Father’s House Church, Akute, now assisting me; the others helping me before are tired. Right now, my family and others helping me are tired, so I need this transplant urgently. I am calling on all good Nigerians to come to my aid. Now I am stranded. I need to go for a transplant in India to live,” he explained. Oshogue said the transplant is to be carried out in an Indian hospital called Global Health City, Cheran Nagar, Sholinganallur-Medavakkan Road, Perumbakkam, Chennai, India.
    img-20160618-wa001To actualise his dreams of staying alive, N10 million is needed. This is to cater for the kidney transplant surgery, and a donor, which he has already been found.
    “I already have a donor. But now the N10 million is a challenge for me to raise. I can’t even continue with the dialysis any longer. I was told if did an “access surgery” around my neck, the dialysis will be cheaper, but I can’t even afford that surgery of N150, 000 now. The reason for the access surgery suggestion is that doctors are worried that the continued usage of my femoral vein for the dialysis can weaken the spot prior to the transplant; this can be dangerous, they warned. The dialysis only keeps me for two to three days, but the real solution is a transplant,” Oshogue explained.
    The medical director of Samsteve Hospital, Akute, Ogun State, Dr. Samson Egbunu, who diagonised him, the only solution for Oshogue to live a normal life is for him to have a kidney transplant. Egbunu said the N10 million is a working figure because the final amount could end up being higher due to post transplant expenses. But for now, “let Oshogue just get the N10 million first,” Egbunu said.
    The public can help Oshogue by giving their widow’s mite into this account: Account name: ELVIS ERAGUE ICHUE; Bank: First Bank Plc; account number: 3106088462.

  • Missing kids dumped in church premises

    • Church calls for autopsy report of dead kids found inside a Nissan car on premises

    Following the case of the alleged missing dead kids dumped on its camp ground at Matogun, Olambe Ogun State, the Christ Crusaders’ Deliverance Ministry has called for an autopsy report on the matter to unravel the cause of the death of the two kids.

    It made the call on Wednesday at a briefing tagged: “Missing Dead Kids Dumped Inside Church’s Premises – Our True Story” that was held in the church headquarters in Akute, Ogun State, in response to media reports on the issue.

    Contrary to reports, the kids named Isaac Ayegbo (6) and Ayomide Innocent (4) were found dead inside a broken down Nissan car on the premises on the early hours of Tuesday, April 5, 2016, around 2.47 a.m. immediately after a vigil held at the camp.

    According to eyewitness report, the bodies were discovered inside abroken down Nissan carparkedalongside a Hyundai Coastal bus owned by the women wing of the church on the premisesby some church membersafter a vigil. The members, some eyewitnesses, who didn’t want their names in print, said, then raised alarm which attracted the attention of the pastor in charge, Babalola Olakunle.

    The church spokesperson, Pastor Yemi Adebisi, stated that on seeing the dead bodies the church wasted no time to inform the police on the incident. “We are not aware of how and when the corpses managed to get into the said vehicle. But immediately the pastor in charge was alerted of the issue,a call was put across to the Church General Overseer, Pastor Festus Adewole, at the Headquarter church located at River Bank Estate Akute to report the strange incidence, who also advised that they inform the police immediately.

    “The church pastorate at headquarters went to Ajunwon Police Station to lodge the complaint. However, they were referred to Agbado Police Station which was claimed to be the station within its jurisdiction. They and the pastor in charge went to Agbado Police Station to report the case. It was, however,that after reporting the case, Pastor Babalola was detained along with a member of the church; the security and the car owner Mr Adewale Babalola, a member of the church. They were refused bail and are still under detention,” Pastor Adebisi said.

    Adebisi told reporters that the campground which covers an expanse of about two acres of land has been in existence since 2004 as a Prayer Mountain for millions of worshippers cutting across various Christian denominations.

    “The vigil that was held that night at the premises is a regular routine of the church. Note that it was the church that reported the incidence to the police immediately the corpses were discovered. And this is because the church has no ulterior motive and was totally unaware of the origin of the said corpses,” he said.

    The church urged the police to release its detained members; while calling for the autopsy report asinvestigationscontinue.Speaking on the issue, the General Overseer, Pastor Adewole, said: “The Church is interested in the autopsy of case because that would reveal the true cause of the death of the two kids.We dissociate ourselves from such despicable acts; it was a calculated attempt of unscrupulous elements to drag the name of the church to the mud.

    “We asked that proper investigation be carried out without sentiments by law enforcement agency so that the culprits can be brought to book, bearing in mind that our mission as a church is to save lives and not to destroy.”