The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fracas

  • Four injured in commercial tricyclists’ fracas in Lagos

    Four injured in commercial tricyclists’ fracas in Lagos

    No fewer than four persons were allegedly injured on Wednesday during a fracas involving members of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN), and Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) outside the premises of the National Industrial Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The fight broke out shortly after the court proceedings on a suit involving the two rival transport associations.

    TOOAN is an affiliate of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) while TOAN is an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    TOOAN had sued their opponent TOAN, the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Lagos State government among others to the National Industrial Court, Lagos Judicial Division, Ikoyi in suit number NICN/LA/504/2016, over who should control tricycle operations in Lagos State.

    It was learnt that trouble started when a chieftain of TOOAN, Muritala Lawal aka Muri Epo allegedly ordered his boys to attack members of TOAN who came to witness the proceedings.

    Dangerous weapons including machetes were said to have been used during the attack.

    Lawal however denied instigating the attack saying that two members of the rival associations had an altercation that was resolved without anyone being injured.

    Workers of the court were said to have reported the matter to the presiding judge, Justice E.A Orji (Mrs), who immediately directed security men attached to the court to contain the warring factions.

    It was learnt that those injured were rushed to the General Hospital, Broad Street, Lagos. The incident was reported at the Ikoyi Police Division.

    Those injured are: Olusegun Ogundare; Kehinde Adeniran; Kazeem Okanlawon and Ikotun Abayomi who sustained varying degrees of injuries, while Babatunde Omobisi and Kazeem Okanlawon allegedly escaped being hacked.

    Speaking with The Nation on the telephone, Lawal described the allegations as untrue and malicious.

    He said that what happened outside the court’s premises on that day was an altercation involving one Kehinde and a chieftain of TOOAN from Cele/Okota, Taofeek Azeez, which was promptly resolved following his intervention.

    ”The allegations are not true at all. There was nothing like fracas at all. What actually happed was that shortly after the suit was adjourned by the court, one Kehinde, who is a member of TOAN went to where one of our branch chairmen was standing outside the court’s premises and engaged him in altercation.

    ” On sighting them, I quickly stepped in and resolved the matter and I left in my car. The altercation happened outside the court’s premises. Despite the presence of some thugs suspected to be members of a popular militant group invited by TOAN, the duo did not fight at all because we used to be one until there was a disagreement and they left to form TOAN which we are contesting in court.

    ” I am the Financial Secretary of TOOAN. I did not ask anyone to attack TOOAN members. Why would I want to attack their (TOAN) members? What do we gain from fighting each other? Our members outnumber their members because we are

  • IPOB alleges plot to eliminate Kanu

    IPOB alleges plot to eliminate Kanu

    • IPOB chief, security chiefs disagree

    There was fracas yesterday around the Umuahia, the Abia State capital residence of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, between security agents and members of the separatist group.

    But Kanu and security chiefs diagareed on the cause of the fracas and the number of those injured.

    The leadership of IPOB in Abia State alleged a plot by security agencies to eliminate Kanu.

    It alleged that soldiers in three patrol vans and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) shot and injured some of its supporters at Kanu’s country home at Afara Ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia.

    Kanu told reporters on the telephone that he was resting at around 6.30pm yesterday when one of his relatives drew his attention to heavy presence of soldiers at the main entrance to his family home.

    He alleged that the soldiers who he claimed came for his life, started shooting sporadically and in the process injured many people.

    The IPOB leader described the incident as “crude show of power” on innocent people.

    He urged IPOB members to remain calm.

    Kanu’s father and the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu Community, HRH Eze Israel Kanu described “the invasion” as “unwarranted and shocking”.

    The monarch said his son committed no crime to warrant an invasion of his palace.

    Army Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade Ohafia Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, denied that “the soldiers on routine patrol” shot at any IPOB member.

    Major Gbadamosi accused the IPOB members of attacking the soldiers and injuring some of them.

    Commissioner of Police Adeleye Oyebade in response to a text message sent to him by our reporter confirmed the incident.

    He wrote:  “Unfortunately, a policeman on guard duties going to work was matcheted by the IPOB group. Asoldier man and a civilian were equally injured. All are being treated in the Police Clinic for minor injuries sustained.

    “Normalcy has been restored, as our men are fully on ground, to ensure no further breach of the peace.”

  • Fracas as Umahi emerges PDP vice chairman

    Fracas as Umahi emerges PDP vice chairman

    Some delegates to the South-East zonal congress of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exchanged blows in Enugu yesterday following an altercation between Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi and his Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security, Ali Odefa.

    Though the congress ended peacefully, it was marred by fisticuffs over the attempt by Odefa to contest for national vice chairman South east zone of the party.

    A petition by Umahi was read to the delegates after Odefa picked the nomination form. The governor alleged Odefa had not resigned from his appointment before standing for the election.

    In the place of the SSA, Umahi picked his immediate younger brother Augustine Umahi for the post, thus disqualifying Odefa.

    When an enraged Odefa moved to the podium to clear himself, the attempt led to exchange of blows.

    But the manhandled Odefa insisted he resigned as SSA as far back as April 15.

    He was later escorted out of Okpara Square venue of the congress in the presence of national leaders and governors of the party.

    Governor Umahi’s younger brother, Augustine was eventually returned unopposed as the national vice-chairman South east.

    Other elected officers include Casmiir Ugwu as zonal secretary; Victor Asams organising secretary; Mary Omile, women leader; Emeka Okeke treasurer and Chidiebere Egwu youth leader.

  • Police arrest 140 suspects over Ilorin fracas

    The Kwara State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 140 suspects over last weekend’s fracas in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    Three persons were reportedly killed in the fracas while property worth million of naira were destroyed.

    The suspected mastermind of the fracas was said to have led his gang on a reprisal attack at the family compound of two operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who were on the team that raided marijuana smokers’ den at Idi-Ape-Baruba area last Friday.

    Police spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told reporters yesterday that the command had arrested some suspects on the matter.

    He said: “We are still mopping up the areas. We are still looking for the suspects. But we have made more arrests. The operation is still going on; it continues today.

    “As at Sunday (this week), the command had arrested 80 suspects. I can tell you that we have arrested no fewer than 140 persons.”

    Okasanmi hinted that the command was getting closer to apprehending the suspected mastermind of the fracas.

  • Three feared dead in Kaduna fracas

    •El-Rufai condemns incident

    Three persons were said to have died when a jubilation turned into a fracas at Angwan Dawa in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Lere Local Government, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulkarim, confirmed the incident to reporters yesterday.

    He said more than five people were receiving treatment in Saminaka General Hospital.

    A resident, Abubakar Sani, said supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took to the streets, celebrating the party’s victory in the governorship election and for winning two House of Assembly seats in the council.

    It was learnt that the jubilating youths went to Angwan Dawa, an area described as a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) stronghold, beating drums and singing.

    “This did not go down well with youths in the area, as they attacked the group, resulting in a fight and the death of one of the jubilating youths.”

    The Nation gathered that the jubilating youths retreated and launched a reprisal, which resulted in the death of two people and burnt property.

    Police spokesman Zubairu Abubakar confirmed the incident, saying two people were injured and receiving treatment in a hospital.

    Abubakar said security agencies, comprising Army, Civil Defence and  Police had restored peace and suspects arrested.

    Kaduna State Governor-elect Nasir El-Rufai has condemned the incident.

    He said miscreants caused the violence, which led to the imposition of a curfew and the deployment of police and soldiers.

    A statement by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said: “El-Rufai condemns the violence. He appeals to the residents of Saminaka to unite for peace and urges the violence to stop. He enjoins security agencies to stop the violence.”

    The governor-elect consoled the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

     

     

  • Five injured in Ibadan fracas

    Five persons were injured in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday as hoodlums suspected to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) attacked residents of Omi-Adio in a bloody fracas that broke out among residents and the hoodlums.

    The hoodlums were accused of breaking into homes, invading farmlands and excavating gravel and sand on land belonging to residents.

    Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu said two suspects had been arrested.

    An eyewitness said the hoodlums wielded charms, cudgels, guns and other weapons when they attacked farmland owners in the area.

    One of the victims was said to have been hit with a charm and was convulsing.

    Residents said they had petitioned the commissioner of police on the incessant attacks by hoodlums and destruction of property in the area.

    The Asiwaju of Omi-Adio, Niyi Akintola, confirmed the incident, saying the matter was being handled by the police.

    The Chairman of the landlord association in the area, Nureni Adejumo, alleged frequent harassment and violent attack on residents and destruction of property by hired thugs.

  • Rescheduled Ranchers vs Kwara United match ends in fracas

    Rescheduled Ranchers vs Kwara United match ends in fracas

    • Irate fans attack Referee Ozigbo

    The fourth club that would be promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League, the elite division in Nigeria could not be decided in yesterday’s rescheduled Nigeria National League (NNL) match between host Ranchers Bees and visiting Kwara United as the match was marred by alleged irate home team’s fans who attacked the center Referee Charles Ozigbo after calling for a penalty in favour of Kwara United in the 22nd minute of the match that was to be played for only 28 minutes.

    The  match which was first played in Kaduna was marred by crowd violence when the game stood at 2-2 score draw. But the Appeals Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation ruled that the match be replayed in Abuja yesterday and that only the remaining 28 minutes left in the match before it was disrupted by fans’ violence should be played in Abuja.

    But alas pandemonium broke out just six minutes to end the 28 minutes match when the irate home fans went for the injured Referee Ozigbo’s jogular for awarding a spot kick in favour of Kwara United. Ozigbo was injured with cudgels and stones while his head was covered with blood.

    The Police at the venue did not come with canisters of tear gas and were not armed, giving the irate fans the opportunity to have a field day.

    The NationSport’s reporter and others had to run for their dear lives while the 10 Policemen on guard tried all the tricks they had to save Referee Ozigbo and his colleagues’ lives.

    The matter will again move to the corridor of the Nigeria Football Federation to finally rule on which team gains the promotion to the elite division of the Nigeria Professional Football League of Nigeria.

    Ranchers Bees and Kwara United needed to win to be very sure of promotion a reason why the match was played under such undue tension and provocations.

    The ugly scene was also watched by the invited foreign based professionals who had just trained. They were asked to stay behind to watch the match by their Coach Samson Siasia shortly after their morning session training.

    The NNL promotion match between Ranchers Bees and Kwara United kicked off at exactly 10.32am at the Goal Project of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday (Friday).

     

  • Fracas ‘over plot to arrest pastor’

    Fracas ‘over plot to arrest pastor’

    Members of a church in Ikorodu, Lagos State, resisted on Sunday moves by the police to arrest their pastor.

    The police from Zone II Onikan, Lagos, were said to have visited Rev. Isaac Adeyemi’s home on Saturday. They arrested his 25-year-old son, Peter, when they did not see him.

    On Sunday, at the Livingspring Tabernacle of the Foursquare Gospel Church, the police ran into a brick wall in their attempt to take away the pastor.

    They were said to have been accompanied by officials from the church’s headquarters.

    The crisis, it was learnt stemmed from the headquarters’ decision to suspend Adeyemi for abandoning a leadership conference for “Embrace,” a soul winning programme organized by the Tabernacle.

    The church’s national officials claimed Adeyemi was suspended for six months. But the pastor is insisting that he is not on suspension.

    He claimed that the decision was pre-conceived because guidelines were not followed.

    The church members rallied round him on Sunday, pelting the visiting officials with sachets of pure water.

    They locked the gate and warned the officials against stepping into the church premises.

    They also resisted the officials’ move to address them, accusing them of trying to destroy the church by removing Adeyemi and putting their own man in charge.

    The officer, who led the policemen, rebuffed reporters’ attempt s to talk to him.

  • Fracas in the House

    Fracas in the House

    Once again, the House of Representatives chamber on September 17 became a fisticuff zone when ordinarily honourable members and their august and esteemed guests descended into near-savagery on a matter that could be civilly settled. If this is a window on 2015, then the omens are bad and should be decried.

    The Abubakar Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had gone on a pitching spree to table their case before the House leadership; and probably seek to influence the House to support their cause. News also had it that the Bamanga Tukur faction was planning a similar pitch, which, however, news reported was put off at the last minute.

    In presidential democracy, this is called lobbying and it is perfectly legitimate. For starters, the National Assembly is a public institution open to all Nigerians and to every partisan who feels it could help in solving his or her problem. So, if the two PDP factions want to lobby for their respective causes, that is perfectly in order. Besides, fundamental rights of association and of speech are entrenched in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    So, if these rights are guaranteed both sides, why the disgraceful scuffle, which involved fisticuffs, garment-shredding, bawling like savages and clawing like animals – and all these in a hall inside the House of Representatives, supposed to be the Palladium of civil and parliamentary conduct?

    This is because of the penchant for the intolerant which, regretfully, a good number of the extant ruling elite are guilty of. That the Baraje faction, with its seven governors and other supporters eventually met with Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and other members of the House management just shows the futility of trying to crudely block a right guaranteed in the Constitution.

    The other faction too should follow the democratic tradition, if it feels the House of Representatives is key to its cause, and go table its cause too before the House leadership and let its cause rise or fall based on the soundness of its logic and power of its argument.

    But to heat up the polity simply because a side is trying to gag the other side does great harm to our evolving democracy. Democracy is all about peacefully settling disputes. If our ruling elite do not cultivate the culture of reasoned debates, but instead latch on to throwing tantrums and physically attacking themselves, just because they don’t have the temper to let their marshalled points speak for them, then we are building a democracy without democrats. That is dangerous.

    The PDP must realise it is the ruling party. It must check its conduct, even when in intense crisis, because its conduct or misconduct always reverberates all through the polity. It has no choice but to conduct itself civilly and responsibly.

    How the two factions settle their problems is strictly their business. But both factions must know that disputes – and serious ones as the PDP is going through – are not settled by grandstanding in the media, or by spinning “reconciliation” (when there is hardly any), or screaming “no retreat, no surrender” just to gain media attention and heat up the polity.

    The split in PDP has resulted from serious questions: fairness, equity, access, equal opportunity, legality and impunity, particularly in the internal running of the party. These are serious challenges that every democratic association must take seriously; they must live by the positive ones and shun the vices.

    The PDP should therefore get real and buckle down to settling its problem. If it doesn’t, it should accept the sad reality that it is rather hitting the end of the road. Nothing, we repeat, nothing must harm this democracy.