The Nation Newspaper

Tag: charms

  • Charms, weapons discovered at Lagos CBD’s criminal hide out

    Assorted charms and dangerous weapons have been discovered in a criminal hideout uncovered under the bridge at the back of the popular Onikan stadium near the Governor’s House, Marina, Lagos.

    The hideout was uncovered by the operatives of the Lagos State Central Business Districts’ enforcement unit.

    The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Business Districts, Mr Olarenwaju Elegushi said  the hideout similar to previous criminal and ritualists’ hideouts discovered in the past was uncovered while carrying out governor’s directives to clear debris under the bridge.

    Elegushi said: “We received the governor’s directives to clear the area of refuses and debris which had accumulated overtime and in the course of carrying out the directives, we uncovered the place  which has been under surveillance for long”.

    ”We have been receiving daily report of criminal activities going on in the area from passer-byes and victims, therefore, we mobilised to dislodge criminals in the area and put a stop to further illegalities perpetrated in the area henceforth.”

    Elegushi assured that his office would leave no stone unturned to dislodge criminals from their hideout and make the Lagos Island district safe for business transactions and leisure.

    He said that no arrest was made adding that assorted charms and dangerous weapons were discovered and cleared from the place.

    He added that the police authorities and military settlement close to the area had been notified of the discovery for necessary action.

  • Abia charms Umahi, Navy

    Abia charms Umahi, Navy

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi and the Navy are the latest visitors to Abia State, the former to gain new technological insights, the other to buy Aba products. SUNNY NWANKWO reports.

    Aba is proving hard to resist. When Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the commercial hub early in the year, he found the garments and footwear made in the city amazing, just as we was astonished by the artisans’ industry. Investors have also been pouring in, including a prominent Chinese tycoon who owns a chain of shoemaking factories in China. The visiting businessman had investment on his mind, seeking to team up with Aba shoemakers.

    The Nigerian Naval Headquarters has also dispatched its officers led by Commodore Chris Obinta to Abia State to determine the state’s readiness to supply them with Aba-made footwear and uniforms. The state has also hosted Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi who came with a large team. Governor Umahi said he came to learn from his Abia counterpart Okezie Ikpeazu.

    Umahi’s visit is coming at a time the when the federal government is calling for diversification of the economy and shoring up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the face of economic challenges.

    Speaking to newsmen at the Government House Lodge in Aba, Umahi said, “There are so many things to talk about. We are on a working visit and I came with over 25 members of State Executive Council. On arrival, the first thing that we noticed was the neatness of the town. We also noticed tremendous streetlights and while we approached the state capital, we saw a lot of roads.

    “Today we saw the amazing mushroom technology which is the first of its kind in Nigeria. I immediately told my people that it is either we acquire the technology or we steal it. So, we had to video what we saw there. It was quite amazing, I must confess to you.

    “We also saw something that was so amazing to us; the poultry farm. That technology is simple but very effective and I think that is the way to go. These two put together, including other programmes, were all aimed at empowerment of the youths. Any governor that is securing the future of their citizens is the governor for today and tomorrow because if we had this kind of opportunity from our past leaders, by today we should be somewhere. But you can see the state of our nation and I commend Ikpeazu very well because he came on time.

    “We came into Aba, the commercial nerve of Africa where the governor is doing well. At the flag-off of Port Harcourt Road, I told a story of how we used to float on that road back in the 90s during my stay in Aba between 1990 and 1992 as the project engineer of Ndiegoro flood control measures where I came in contact with most of the dilapidated roads within the area then. Today, I’m so excited and shocked with the number of roads that the governor has completed within the two years of his administration. What he is doing at Ariaria sector of this city is quite tremendous and honestly I have been wondering how the problem of erosion and flooding in Aba can be solved. But today, I saw works of ingenuity. For me, the problem of Ariaria, Ndiegoro, Ohanku and Port Harcourt roads are all solved.

    “Amazing also is a number of street roads that he is doing. I have a couple of properties here in Aba, so he is also my governor. I want to commend him very highly. The mighty work he is doing on Faulks Road joining Aba-Owerri Road to Ariaria is tremendous. Time will fail us to talk about the number of roads that he is doing, but I think he is being too quiet about what he is doing. We also went to the PPP Centre (Abia Investment House). My people are coming; we have investment companies, so that they will understudy that. Another area we are also understudying is IGR. We have about 14-man committee that will interface and study Abia IGR system. I am personally going to understudy the mushroom technology because I don’t want to toy with that.

    “I am so amazed with the quality of dresses that are made in Aba; of course 90 per cent of my dresses are made in Aba. I want to commend the governor for the shoes, the bags and facilities for the law enforcement agents. This is wonderful. The governor told me that he is going to partner with private industries and to make sure that those that have gone moribund will be revitalised. So, your guess of what will be the impact of this to the economy of the state when this happens is as good as mine.”

    Governor Ikpeazu said his government was ready to partner the Nigerian Navy in its efforts to bolster the made-in-Aba products which the administration has championed for nearly two years. Ikpeazu said this when the naval delegation paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge in Aba, adding that he was happy with the Navy’s swift response to his appeal to look inwards for its kits.

    “Since the past one year, the state has been engaged in promoting made-in-Aba and made in Nigeria products,” Ikpeazu said, adding that as far as he was concerned, made-in-Aba is bigger than this geographical entity called Aba. ”It is a philosophy and a key paradigm to drive the desire of Nigerians to the buy Nigeria, enjoy Nigeria and live Nigeria.”

    Speaking further, he said, “We believe strongly that patronage and demand drive perfection. Incidentally, the leather and shoe industry as well as garment industry have existed for so many years and even the World Bank acknowledges that at least one million pairs of shoes leave the shores of Nigeria through the Abia window on a weekly basis, it’s a no mean feat”.

    Ikpeazu told the Navy delegation: “We don’t want to shortchange ourselves again, and to the glory of God, we have it in our minds that to compliment the efforts of Mr. President, we proudly label our products made-in-Nigeria.”

    He said he sees the navy as a strategic partner not only in the protection of lives and property but also in economic development of the country, adding that if the navy patronises made-in-Aba and made-in-Nigeria, it will go a long way to enhance the confidence of artisans in the trade.

    He assured the delegation that his administration was very serious about making Abia and Aba a hub for leather and garment manufacturing not only in Nigeria, but in Africa.

    “While we were in China, we were able to reach an understanding that automated production lines will be established worth $1.5b in our environment. As I speak, I’m happy to announce that I will be in Lagos to welcome a foreign partner that will sharpen our skills in shoemaking. I know that they will learn a lot of things from our shoemakers in Aba because the creativity and craftsmanship of our shoemakers here is about the best all over the world.

    “This is our opportunity to put our skills side by side with the best of the world and tell them that indeed we are the best.”

    Commodore Obinta, leader of the delegation, said they came to discuss with the governor on how Abia State will partner the navy in terms of trade especially the made-in-Aba shoes and other products. He said they would go round the state to see things for themselves and look at the goods the Navy would be able to purchase for its personnel.

  • How I was beaten with charms, by Ogun pastor

    A Pastor, Prince Adewale Fagbire,  who was alleged to have been struck dumb and motionless after attacking a shrine at Ketu-Ayetoro in Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State, yesterday, said he was assaulted with “charms and other fetish objects”.

    Fagbire, a pastor at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Ayetoro, told reporters he entered the shrine, evacuated its fetish items, and took a position beside the entrance as instructed by God.

    Fagbire, the son of the late Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Taiwo Fagbire, who died in 1981, said his late father used to take him to the shrine when he was alive.

    Narrating his experience at the Office of the  Chairman, Ogun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Fagbire said he elected to “remain calm and mute” during the assault and interrogation at the shrine by traditionalists and villagers.

    The pastor, who spoke in the presence of Christian leaders from the state CAN and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), said God instructed him to stay calm and not utter a word at the shrine.

    The father of two noted that this had nothing to with his assault with “charms and fetish objects”, as what they did had no physical or spiritual effects on him.

    According to him, it was also not true as reported that the priests and custodians of the shrine upon the intervention of the Alaye of Ayetoro,  Oba Abdulaziz Adelakun,  treated or healed him before he  became conscious.

    “About what happened at Ayetoro, it was from God and direction from Holy Spirit for the deliverance of Ayetoro from darkness.

    “God told me I should go to the shrine to bring out those things for the liberation of Ayetoro. When I started what God told me, he told me to do three things in the shrine . That is, I should evacuate the items,  step aside and watch the film. I should not say anything when people come out to see me. So, I did as instructed by God on September 20 .

    “When I was taken to the palace, I  told them all my actions were directed by God. Although they beat me with charms, none was effective on me. I am healthy and sound.  When we got to the palace, I expressed my mind about it; nobody treated me.”

    The Nation gathered that although the traditionalists demanded N300,000 from Prince Wale family and N200,000 from a church in the community, where Fagbire had once preached, for sacrifices to appease the gods for his alleged sacrilege, nothing was given to them.

  • ‘Charms don’t prevent accidents’

    ‘Charms don’t prevent accidents’

    THE Ogun State Coordinator, Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC) Special Marshal and Partnership (SMP), Elder Emmanuel Fagbenro, has urged motorists to stop believing in the efficacy of charms while driving. He advised them against the erroneous belief that road crashes during the “ember” months are either spiritual or caused by evil spirits.

    Elder Fagbenro spoke during the “ember month” campaign rally organised by the Egba Division of SMP at Panseke Motor Park, Abeokuta the Ogun State capital.

    He noted that the last four months of the year are usually characterised by an upsurge in road crashes which are attributable to non-compliance with traffic rules and regulations. He reeled off these traffic infractions to include overloading, over speeding and driving against traffic by motorists. This, he said, is widespread due to an increase in vehicular movement and greater number of travellers.

    He said: “Accidents occur on the road as a result of what we do or failed to do. Statistic has shown that most of the crashes occurred on the roads as a result of wrong beliefs and over-confidence on the efficacy of charms on the part of drivers.

    Fagbenro reiterated the FRSC’s commitment to work with other traffic agencies to ensure discipline and orderliness are maintained on the highways during the Yuletide period and beyond.

    The SMP Coordinator appealed to transport unions and other stakeholders to prevail on their members to have a change of attitude on use of the roads. This, he said, would guarantee safety of lives and properties during the Christmas festivities and beyond.

    He urged motorists to avoid

  • ‘Charms don’t prevent accidents’

    ‘Charms don’t prevent accidents’

    The Ogun State Coordinator, Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC) Special Marshal and Partnership (SMP), Elder Emmanuel Fagbenro, has urged motorists to stop believing in the efficacy of charms while driving. He also advised them against the erroneous belief that road crashes during the “ember” months are either spiritual or caused by evil spirits.

    Elder Fagbenro spoke during the “ember month” campaign rally organised by the Egba Division of SMP at Panseke Motor Park, Abeokuta the Ogun State capital.

    He noted that the last four months of the year are usually characterised by an upsurge in road crashes which are attributable to non-compliance with traffic rules and regulations. He reeled off these traffic infractions to include overloading, over speeding and driving against traffic by motorists. This, he said, is widespread due to an increase in vehicular movement and greater number of travellers.

    He said: “Accidents occur on the road as a result of what we do or failed to do. Statistic has shown that most of the crashes occurred on the roads as a result of wrong beliefs and over-confidence on the efficacy of charms on the part of drivers.

    Fagbenro reiterated the FRSC’s commitment to work with other traffic agencies to ensure discipline and orderliness are maintained on the highways during the Yuletide period and beyond.

    The SMP Coordinator appealed to transport unions and other stakeholders to prevail on their members to have a change of attitude on use of the roads. This, he said, would guarantee safety of lives and properties during the Christmas festivities and beyond.

    He urged motorists to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol while on the wheel. He advised vehicle owners to ensure that their vehicles are road worthy before setting out on a journey.

     

  • Charms, cartridges get students suspended

    The Kwara State Polytechnic has suspended three students for alleged unlawful possession of life cartridges and  charms.

    A statement signed by the Deputy Registrar (Information & Publication Division), Alhaji Moshood Amuda, noted that the students, who have been handed over to the police, would remain suspended until investigations are concluded.

    The statement reads: “The Polytechnic Authority had received a report in which you were alleged to be in unlawful possession of life cartridges and charms after which you were handed over to the Police for further investigation. In line with the Polytechnic practice, any student under investigation is to be placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation of the alleged case (s). Consequently, I am directed to inform you that the management has approved your immediate suspension from the polytechnic pending the outcome of the investigation by the Police.”

    The students involved are: Tunde Bolaji (Marketing, HND/12/MKT/PT/019), Wasiu Abdullahi (Marketing, HND/14/MKT/FT/207), and Atanda Atoyebi (Business Administration, ND/14/BA/FT/132), all from Institute of Finance and Management Studies of the polytechnic.

  • Man dies in Ogun after being struck with charms

    IT was a shocking sight yesterday as a 25-year-old bricklayer, Ahmed Azeez, slumped and died at Ifo, Ogun State.

    He was allegedly struck with charms by an official of the Articulate Motorcyclists Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (AMORAN), after an argument.

    It was learnt that Azeez, who occasionally rode a commercial motorcycle, popularly called Okada, to enhance his income, was asked by Adegbite to pay for the mandatory N450 daily ticket.

    An argument, which degenerated into a fisticuff ensued over what Azeez called “outrageous levy”.

    A witness said other members of AMORAN took sides with their colleague.

    It was learnt that the official allegedly struck the bricklayer with a charm he brought out of his pocket.

    The AMORAN official, who saw Azeez gasping for breath, attempted to flee.

    But sympathisers compelled him to take the man to a clinic.

    They later took him to the Ifo Divisional Police Headquarters, where he was taken into custody after it was discovered that Azeez was dead.

    The deceased’s brother, Akeem, said: “The action of the AMORAN’s official was a clear case of murder, which should not be swept under the carpet.

    “This is murder and should be treated as such. They killed my brother for no reason. And we have been hearing from their group that they would get away with any crime because they have the backing of the three tiers of government,” he added.

    The Chairman of AMORAN in Ifo, Nurudeen Jimoh, who expressed shock at the incident, said: “Killing is a clear violation of the union’s mode of operation.”

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident, which he said was being investigated.

     

  • Fayose’s commissioner, aides arrested with weapons, charms

    Fayose’s commissioner, aides arrested with weapons, charms

    Ekiti State Commissioner for Works Kayode Oso, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters Ademola Bello and four others were yesterday arrested by the police at the vicinity of the House of Assembly.

    They were among the loyalists of Governor Ayo Fayose who laid siege to the precincts of the Assembly complex, waiting for the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

    Also arrested are Adeyanju Oluwole, Raphael Adebayo, Babajide Adebayo and Wasiu Ogunsakin.

    Police sources said they were arrested with one black colour Ford pick-up van with registration number EK 05-B27 and one blue Toyota Hilux van with registration number AA 363 YEK.

    The two vehicles, believed to belong to the state government, were carrying weapons, including nine live cartridges, 10 cutlasses, charms, fake US dollars, a carton of Regal dry gin, a parcel of Indian hemp and six small kegs of kerosene.

    Some of the thugs in the entourage reportedly escaped during their encounter with the policemen.

    Police Commissioner Taiwo Lakanu could not be reached for comments on phone proved abortive as he did not pick his calls. Neither did he reply text messages sent to his cell phone.

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi, in a text message, said he was not aware of the arrest.

  • ‘Police would not have caught me like a fowl if I had my charms on’

    ‘Police would not have caught me like a fowl if I had my charms on’

    A robbery suspect, Olawunmi Oluwafemi, has said that he would not have been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Ogun State Police Command if he had carried his charms with him while exchanging gunfire with the police because they would have acted as ‘bulletproof’. T h i r t y – t h r e e – y e a r – o l d Oluwafemi a.k.a. Femi Kuti, a native of Okuku, Osun State also confessed that his special role in cult fights and the robbery gang to which he belonged was to shoot dead anyone identified as an enemy, adding that he had killed more than eight people.

    The suspect and some members of his gang who were still at large were said to have constituted a public threat in Ogun State as they killed and maimed innocent people under the cover of Eyee, an occult group that carried out all sorts of criminal activities, including armed robbery and bloody cult fights.

    A police source said the cult had wanted to unleash terror during the annual Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode before the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Okoye Ikemefuna, ordered Mohammed Tijani, the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS), to relocate to the area for effective policing and possible arrest of Oluwafemi and other members of the gang.

    It was said to have taken the police a lot of patience to arrest Oluwafemi, the suspected leader of the gang, because they did not want to hurt innocent people at the ceremony. The police also did not want to shoot him in a manner that he would die so that he would be able to help the police to locate the fleeing members of the gang. In the exchange of gunfire that ensued, the police succeeded in shooting Oluwafemi in the lower limb so that he could not run again, after which he was arrested.

    Yet at the time he spoke with our correspondent, Oluwafemi was in critical condition as he could not stand with his badly battered legs. The police also revealed that they recovered from him a locally made double barrel pistol loaded with live ammunition, three expended cartridges and some charms. Speaking with our correspondent, Oluwafemi said he was married with two children but had to sack his wife after finding her with another man. “If not for the two children she had for me, I would have shot her dead the day I caught her committing adultery with one stupid man,” he said. Oluwafemi added: “My parents are late.

    My father died of a brief illness while my mother and grandmother died of old age. My father’s name is Olajere Oluwafemi. He was sick before he died in the 1990s while my mother died in an auto accident. “There were three of us born of the same mother and father. I attended Okuku Community High School and completed the Senior Secondary School in flying colours. But I could not go to university for financial reasons and a misunderstanding between my father and my mother.

    I started seeing hell when my father and mother separated and threw me out to my grandmother, who managed to take care of my secondary education. “When I could not secure an employment, I decided to go into apprenticeship, learning how to operate saw machine. I later got employed in one of the saw mills in Ijebu on a monthly salary of N10,000. “I later left the saw mill and started selling hard drugs. It was the business that brought me into contact with some cult members and some rich people in town because they were the ones that patronised me.” Asked how he was initiated into Eyee cult, he said: “It was one Ahmed, a friend, who introduced me to the Eyee society.

    We lived in the same area in Ijebu. My mother is an Ijebu woman. One day, Ahmed told me that we should go to one party and enjoy ourselves. He advised me to dress well so that we would not be prevented from getting in. I knew him to be a cult member but I did not know that he planned to initiate me into the cult. “When we got there, we entered a beer parlour. As I looked towards the back of the compound, I saw some boys who looked like Eyee members. We started drinking but those at the backyard were drinking and smoking heavily. He later left me and went somewhere he did not disclose to me. He came back around 8 pm and asked me to follow him into a nearby bush around Olabisi Onabanjo University.

    “There were many boys there, including cult members and new members about to be initiated. They ordered me to join those who came to be initiated. We line up and more people joined us, making the line to become longer. “At a point, they started beating us. They stripped us of our clothes so that only our pants remained. They marched on us, dancing, drinking and smoking as they did so. I had no choice but to be patient with them. They blindfolded us so that we would not know where we were. There were more than 30 of us and they beat us with horsewhip or till day break.

    “They asked us so many questions, including whether we would be able to keep their secrets or reveal them to non-members. We said no. As they were beating and marching on us, they were asking for our names and writing them in a note book. “Later, they brought kolanut and used a razor blade to cut open my finger. They mixed my blood with the kolanut and asked me to chew everything. After this, they started giving us our initiate names. I was given Ayee Skipoo. “Later, they asked us to move to one side.

    They moved us out of the initiation ground, untied our faces and started giving us orientation. They threatened that if any of us betrayed the society or cult, the oath we took would kill us. “I was given my first assignment when Eyee cult members killed one of my members (Eyee member) inside the main campus of Ogun State University. Fortunately for us, we went to drink palm wine and to smoke gbana

  • Man with charms held at Alaafin’s palace

    A young man armed with charms has been apprehended at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo.

    It was learnt that the man, who reportedly has tribal marks, jumped over the fence into the palace around 6am on Tuesday.

    He was apprehended by palace guards.

    Sources said the man could not explain his mission there and resorted to violence, but was overpowered and handed over to the police.

    A source said: “There was a struggle before the man was overpowered. Initially, efforts to apprehend him were to no avail, due to the charms that were all over his body. But he was eventually brought on his knees and handed over to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).”

    The officer in charge of SARS, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sola Aremu, said the suspect has been transferred to Atiba Divisional Police Station because no arms or ammunition were found on him.