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Tag: Hamburger

  • 30,000 cops for Lagos council polls

    30,000 cops for Lagos council polls

    … Hamburger’s suspected killers arrested

    The Lagos State police command said on Tuesday that at least 30,000 policemen would be deployed for Saturday’s local government election in the state.

    The state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, stated this during a press briefing, adding that security agencies are well prepared for the polls.

    According to the commissioner, the police and sister agencies have been meeting to ensure that the election was violence free.

    He said an inter-agency committee had been put in place and operational plan drawn with special attention to flash points.

    Owoseni said: “The command can say that security agencies are fully prepared for the local council election. We have scheduled training/workshop for participating agencies. We have also fashioned out an interactive session with representatives of political parties and candidates for the election.

    “We are looking at deploying 30,000 personnel to cover the election. This figure would be augmented by personnel from sister agencies.

    “We are using this forum to warn all those, who plan to cause trouble or truncate the exercise that they won’t be given any chance. Violence would not be tolerated. We are poised to ensure that the election and electioneering are devoid of violence.

    “We would discharge our responsibilities and obligations in consonance with the Lagos State Electoral Laws. All electorates, candidates and officials are assured of their safety and security. Anyone who dares to test the ability of security forces will have his/herself to blame because perpetrators of violence would face the full wrath of the law.

    “Political parties are advised to discharge their obligations under the Electoral Laws with regards to necessary voter education. If all involved play their rules well, the election would be hitch-free.”

    The police commissioner also disclosed that two suspected killers of the Chairman of Tricyclist Association, Rasak Bello aka Hamburger, are currently in police custody and would be charged to court.

    Samson Agbetoye alias Golden and Babatunde Saka “Hanger” reportedly surrendered themselves to the police on June 20.

    He recalled that the police had promised to ensure justice prevailed in the murder case, noting that they were not unaware of the allegations and counter allegations Hamburger’s murder generated.

    “When the incident occurred, the command indicated that it would not be swept under the carpet. Investigation has been on since then and pursued with all sense of seriousness. The principal suspect, Samson Agbetoye alias Golden and one Babatunde Saka have been in our custody. They have volunteered useful statement to the police and will soon be arraigned in court for prosecution,” Owoseni added.

     

  • Oshodi violence: Lagos Suspends NURTW activities indefinitely

    Oshodi violence: Lagos Suspends NURTW activities indefinitely

    Following the violence that led to the death of a leader of Motorcycle Operators’ Association of Lagos State (MOALS) in Oshodi, Alhaji Rasaq Bello popularly known as Hamburger, the State Government on Monday suspended activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in all the seven branches in the area indefinitely.

    The affected branches are LOB A, LOB D, LOB J, Oshodi A, Oshodi B, Oshodi C and Oshodi D.

    The State Government, in a news conference jointly addressed by officials of the State, the police and NURTW at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said while the suspension order lasts, there would be no collection of tickets/fees from commuter buses operating in the area.

    Addressing the briefing, the State’s Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi said throughout the duration of the suspension order, a team of State Government officials and security personnel would be mandated to oversee and monitor the transport operations within the affected branches to ensure they do not collect any ticket or fees from transport operators.

    He said the suspension order was taken after due consultation with all the relevant stakeholders concerning the crisis, and that it would remain in force until peace and tranquility returned to the area, adding that the lifting of the ban would only be based on appropriate security reports.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, police investigations are ongoing on the said death and all persons found culpable will be prosecuted in line with the dictates of the laws.

    “It is important to also emphasis that all rumour mongering, insinuations and unfounded/unverified facts should be avoided in the sake of peaceful co-existence.

    “Any escalation of the crisis arising from the ban will lead to Government taking sterner actions against the branches where violence is recorded,” Elegushi threatened.

    He said as part of the strategies to permanently address incessant crisis arising from activities of transport unions in the State, the State Government has already put in place the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) through which 5,000 air-conditioned and convenient buses would be injected into the transport sector, adding that the initiative would soon be launched.

    Also speaking, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the State, Mr Imohimi Edgal confirmed that some arrests have been made following the crisis and that investigation had started in respect of the violence.

    He assured that anyone found culpable in the crisis would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, and that the State Government, in partnership with the police and other relevant stakeholders were working towards a lasting peace.

    Edgal added that the report of the preliminary investigation by the police would be out before the end of the week.

    On his part, Lagos State Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede said the branch was in support of the decision of government to suspend all union activities in Oshodi indefinitely, saying that the union was adequately consulted before the action was taken.

    “I like to confirm that the decision of the State Government to suspend union activities in Oshodi was supported by us. We also want a lasting peace in Oshodi and we know that with this decision, people can go about their duties without let or hindrance.

    “I am sure if the union had handled the issue of Oshodi, we would have arrived at the same decision to suspend activities for now and I want to urge our members to cooperate with government in its bid to ensure lasting peace.

    “Going forward, we have been educating our members on the need to eschew violence and we still want to reiterate it that anyone caught perpetrating violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Agbede said.

     

  • Hamburger: Task force arrests gang members

    Hamburger: Task force arrests gang members

    Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Motorcycle Operators Association (MOALS) of Lagos State (MOALS) have been arrested over the skirmish that followed the death of Rasak Bello, aka Hamburger.

    Hamburger was Oshodi Chairman of MOALS, an affiliate of NURTW.

    Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force), said the suspects were being interrogated.

    It assured residents of Mafoluku, Sogunle, Sadiku, Ladipo and Oshodi of their, urging them to go about their business.

    The task force Chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said transport union activities in Oshodi were under agency’s control.

    According to him, security men have been strategically positioned for the maintenance of peace and orderliness.

    He warned miscreants and hoodlums to desist from causing chaos around Oshodi and other parts of the state, noting that anyone arrested would be prosecuted.

  • Gunmen kill union leader in Lagos

    Gunmen on Monday shot dead the chairman of a motorcycle riders’ association in Shogunle area of Lagos simply identified as Hamburger.

    The killing were said to be connected to the local council election primaries being conducted across the state.

    Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen stormed Olori and other adjourning streets in the area and shot sporadically.

    The incident spread to Bolade area of Oshodi, forcing traders to lock up their businesses.

    Angered by the shooting of their leader, motorcyclists in the area went on rampage and attacked those suspected to be political thugs.

    It took the intervention of policemen from Shogunle police division and the state anti-riot squad to restore normalcy in the area.

    A trader in the area simply identified as Peace said:  “I came to my shop at Olori Street and suddenly there was pandemonium. I had to quickly lock up and ran away. Other traders, residents and passersby ran when we heard gunshots.

    “The fighting started because of the local government election primaries. We heard that the gunmen shot Hamburger on the head. He was rushed to the hospital and there are reports that he is dead.”