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Tag: Igando

  • NGO provides academic materials for Igando pupils

    The first week of September is usually a trying period for most parents in Nigeria due to the pressure of paying their children’s school fees and providing other requirements for the start of a new school session.

    However, “The Clothe Me project”, a non-profit outreach program, that equips children and adults with transferable decent clothing, to meet the needs of less privileged communities, decided to reduce the financial burden on parents during the resumption period.

    In order to get this done, the non-governmental organisation, launched a Back to School Charity Drive, a project created to help students in remote and uncivilized areas, prepare adequately for school resumption.

    The project which kicked off for the first time in September 2018, held in Isuti, Igando Lagos state.

    The organisation, hosted children from the community and other neighbouring streets at Debisi’s Cradle and School in Igando.

    As a result of this drive, no fewer than 200 pupils were given educational materials, which include school bags, math sets, writing materials, books etc.

    According to the founder, Joy Abara, Isuti community was selected after an assessment of environments. “We found that our event would be useful for the kids in that locale.” Abara said.

    “The intent of the charity drive is to provide academic supplies to underprivileged kids.

    “One of the things we wanted to achieve through this program was to promote and encourage learning especially in run down communities.

    “This program is particularly special because it meets a specific need, which is that of the student who can’t afford the cost of returning back to school.”

    She noted that she had gone into deep thought as to how the charity group could reach out to kids who were returning to school.

    “I took particular interest in kids, after our children days outreach organised in May. I went into deep thought regarding what our charity group could do, that would drive a lot more impact for children. And that’s how this came about.” She said.

    As regards continuity, Abara stated that the project is not a one-off adding that the work never ends “We are young, driven and passionate group of individuals who desire to see a major transformation within our communities.

    “Our strategy is to impact one person at a time. The work never ends, if anything we would keep growing bigger till impact is thoroughly felt.” She said.

    The organisation, which raises funds from personal contributions and donations, expressed hope of attracting more sponsorship. “We raise funds mostly from personal contributions and donations. In the future, we hope to get sponsorship from brands.

    “The context of “Clothing” encompasses all aspects of need that is important for human, daily life. We are hopeful for a time when we would be on the corporate social responsibility list of companies. I know that time would come.”

    Speaking on the challenges experienced by the group, Abara said “We often get concerns from choosing our location. This could be a difficult one, especially if there’s no familiar person to relate with.

    “Getting consent from community leaders poses a big challenge sometimes. We hope to have that resolved for our subsequent events.

    “Funding also, could be somewhat tough sometimes, I believe this is a normal challenge for other organisations like ours.

    “Above all, the benefits far outweighs the challenges.  What I particularly love about our group is the fact that we rob off on each other.

    “Everyone in the group puts their skills to use, from communications to IT , fashion, accounting , dry cleaning, planning etc. Each outreach we organise is an opportunity to learn and improve on each skill.”

    According to her, the back to school project 2018 was a huge success and the school authorities were very appreciative of the thought and gesture made towards giving back.“Looking back at how the event went, I would say that it was a success.” Abara said.

  • How couple ran Igando ‘baby factory’

    How couple ran Igando ‘baby factory’

    FACTS emerged yesterday that the couple paraded on Monday by the police  for allegedly running a baby factory in Igando, Lagos State, operated from three locations.

    A 15-year-old boy and two toddlers were rescued from the couple’s home yesterday by  officials of  Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development. House 3, Alhaji Jimoh Sodiq Street, Igando,  was said to be used as an orphanage by Adeola and Binta Adebayo. The government has sealed off the place.

    The couple, it was learnt, usually kept young expectant mothers at 1, Treasure Palace Close, off Hand of Fair Bus Stop, Ikotun-Igando Road or in an undisclosed location for  months and only brought them to the ‘orphanage’ when they were about to give birth.

    A petty trader on the street, Iyabeji, said the suspects had been operating the ‘orphanage’ for years, adding that she usually saw heavily pregnant women, ‘’who disappeared after they must have been delivered of their babies’’.

    Iyabeji said the expectant mothers  patronised her shop, adding that the Matron, Iya Dupe, had worked in the orphanage since 2016.

    She said: “I never knew it was a baby factory or an illegal orphanage. You can see how quiet this street is and most of the bungalows have very high fences. So, it is almost impossible for anyone to know what happens behind those fences.

    “But I know that I usually see heavily pregnant women come from the orphanage to buy pepper and tomato from me. After sometime, I won’t see the young women again and later on, I will see new ones.

    “Also, I know that the mama (matron) who takes care of the children is Iya Dupe. She has been working for the orphanage since 2016. She doesn’t stay there. She used to complain that she wanted to leave because they were not paying her well. She said they paid her N16,000 per month and when she complained, they increased it to N20,000 and they were not regular with the payment.

    “She was here this morning. I don’t know where she has gone to. She would have told you more. The teenage boy (Chinedu Dike) you saw inside the orphanage grew up there. No one adopted him and so, all the children there see him as their elder brother.”

    The Nation saw children’s footprints at a playground constructed on the left hand side of the ‘orphanage’. Although the rooms had the smell of babies, there was nothing, not even trash on the premises, for investigators to analyse.

    Asked if she was ever brought to the ‘orphanage’, six-month-pregnant Precious Emmanuel said no, adding that she was taking to two locations.

    She said they were four expectant mothers in all, including Adebayo’s daughter, Balikis.

    Emmanuel said: “There was a house I was kept in when I came last November. After we celebrated Christmas, we were relocated to another side. Initially, I wanted to abort my pregnancy but when I got to her, she advised me to keep the baby that after I have been delivered of the baby, she would give the baby out and settle me. I didn’t understand what the settlement meant.

    “I wanted abortion because the man who impregnated me maltreated me and sent me packing. My sister also did not want the pregnancy and she asked me to abort it and return to Akwa Ibom. My sister doesn’t know I didn’t abort the baby and she doesn’t know I am still in Lagos.

    “We were four pregnant women. Her daughter-in-law, her husband’s daughter, myself and the other lady.  No one paid anyone to impregnate us. The person who brought me requested I don’t tell my sister where I was.

    “I feel like my pregnancy is seven months but the scan keeps saying six months. She usually took us for scan and she registered us with a private hospital. I don’t know the name of the hospital but I have their card.

    “She treated me fine. I usually ate normal food such as garri, rice, beans. It is not true that I used to help her sell drinks. I don’t do anything like that. I only know that Favour used to live with her before she brought her to join us. Her husband’s daughter is Balikis. She is in their house. They never brought me to the ‘orphanage’. This is the first time I am coming here. Since I got to her house, it was only the four pregnant women I saw.”

    Mrs. Adebayo, who told reporters at the Police Headquarters in Ikeja on Monday that she was from Abia State but married to a Yoruba man, changed tune yesterday.

    She  also denied  being Igbo, insisting that she was originally from Kasaid: “We came for closure of an illegal orphanage. We discovered that the home has not fully registered with the government. She put up an application, we came to access the home and we told her that the home was inappropriate for orphanage operation in Lagos State.

    “She has not met the operational guidelines of Lagos State and she was instructed not to practice. At the time we came here for inspection, there were no children. But today, you can see for yourself the condition of the two children we found here.

    “The children have been evacuated and would be taken to appropriate homes. The woman would face the law at the end of investigation. Police have commenced investigation and the public would be well briefed.

    “It has been established that the woman is operating under so many names. We would tie everything to gether and take necessary actions.

    “Already the government has warned all orphanages operating illegally in the state to come and register within 14 days. Any orphanage that refuses to comply with this directive within the given period would face sanctions. We appeal to the public to continue to provide us with useful information on orphanages suspected to be running illegal businesses.”

  • Sergeant killed as hoodlums invade three petrol stations in Igando

    A police Sergeant was allegedly killed and several others injured when hoodlums stormed a filling station in Igando on the outskirts of Lagos. The incident happened at Dapsey Petrol Station near Igando Police Station in the night of January 28.

    The hoodlums also  attacked two other gas stations on the LASU-Iba that fateful day.

    According to sources, the robbers, who were confronted by the late Sergeant Akor, fled the scene and abandoned their  Honda Accord saloon car when their  bullets did not penetrate the cop.

    But  the late Sergeant reportedly pursued the robbers in order to recover a service rifle they seized from his colleague, a Corporal, after shooting him.

    Among those injured, The Nation gathered, were a soldier, a young woman and two others.

    It was gathered that when the robbers entered the station, they went after a soldier and a policeman who stood beside a petrol pump.

    They were said to have attempted to crush the soldier and the policeman with their vehicle.

    A witness, Francis Adeleke said: “But the soldier and the policeman immediately ran. They were hit on their legs and they fell. The soldier also sustained face injury. The policeman’s rifle was taken away and the robbers started shooting indiscriminately.

    “Stray bullet hit a young woman and some others. There was confusion and apprehension. As this was going on, Akor, who had earlier left the filling station, returned and confronted the robbers.

    “He was not armed but he ran towards the armed robbers and they opened fire on him but the bullets did not penetrate and the Sergeant was shouting ‘you no fit! You no fit!’.

    “When the robbers noticed that their bullet wasn’t penetrating, they fled the station and took the police rifle they seized.  Akor pursued them to recover the police rifle but he never returned.”

    It was gathered that  Akor’s body was found about 30 minutes later at O’Mark Bus Stop by the station manager, Tijani, who led some of his subordinates in search of the policeman.

    The robbers, it was gathered, killed Akor with the service rifle that was seized from his colleague..

    Akor’s body has been deposited in a morgue and   the robbers’ abandoned vehicle moved to the police station.

    The injured  Corporal is in an undisclosed hospital.

    According to the gas station owner, the late Sergeant’s bravery  prevented the robbers from invading his office.

    He condemned the  Igando Division for allegedly not responding to the station’s    distress.

    The command’s spokesman, Chike Oti, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said it was untrue that the robbers attacked three filling stations.

    He said: “Some armed robbers in a Honda Accord came into Dapsey Petrol Station, ostensibly to rob but the attempt was foiled by policemen on duty at the filling station.

    “The armed robbers drove hurriedly out of the filling station when the attempt was foiled. The gallant policeman gave them a hot pursuit and in the process, they shot and killed him.

    “A number of arrests has been made in respect of the incident and investigation is ongoing. It is not true that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)  did not respond to the distress call. The DPO was alerted and he mobilised, alerted his men on the route possibly taken by the robbers.

  • Court dissolves marriage over threat to life

    Court dissolves marriage over threat to life

    An Igando Customary Court on Monday dissolved a five-year-old marriage in which the husband, Mr Nicholas Johnson, accused his wife, Adesola,35, of threatening to set him ablaze, among other wrongdoings.

    Mr Moses Akinniyi, the president, Igando Customary Court, in a judgment, held that the couple had become tired of the marriage, and all efforts to reconcile both parties had failed.

    “Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

    “The court pronounces the marriage between Mr Nicholas Johnson and Mrs Adesola Johnson dissolved today; both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife.

    “Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,’’ Akinniyi ruled.

    Earlier, Nicholas Johnson, a 40-year-old businessman, told the court that his wife had accused him of infidelity and threatened to set him ablaze.

    Read also: Court dissolves marriage over wife’s disrespectful manners

    “Adesola often threatens to pour a keg of petrol on me and set me ablaze,” the petitioner said.

    He urged the court to dissolve the five-year-old marriage.

    “Whenever I go out and come back late, she will accuse me of being in company of a woman.

    “When I receive a call, she will say I am talking to my girlfriend and she will fight me.

    “In fact, I can no longer talk to a woman again,” he said.

    The petitioner also accused his wife of not respecting him.

    “My wife does not have regard for me. She always rains curses and abuses on me. Most times, she talks to me as if she is talking to her son,” he said.

    The petitioner said that his wife, a trader, packed some of his belongings while packing out of their matrimonial home.

    “My wife carted away with my food-warmer, freezer and my bag that contained valuable documents,” Johnson said.

    He said he was no longer in love with his wife.

    “Please, divorce this loveless marriage before Adesola will carry out her threat of setting me ablaze,” he pleaded.

    Adesola, in her response, said she accused her husband of infidelity because he was always in the company of a particular woman.

    She, however, denied threatening to set him ablaze or packing her husband’s belongings while leaving their matrimonial home.

    The 35-year-old trader also denied abusing or raining abuses on her husband, saying she respects him all the time.

    The mother of two, however, consented to the dissolution of the marriage, telling the court she was no longer interested in it.

    NAN

  • Igando wooden bridges need attention

    Igando wooden bridges need attention

    The wooden bridges that presently link Igando area of Lagos State with Ayobo community, also in Lagos, need an urgent intervention from the state government.

    Some private individuals years back constructed the wooden bridges to link the two communities for a fee.

    Residents from both sides, who had had to take longer routes, immediately embraced the gesture and business began to thrive for the owners of those wooden bridges.

    There are three wooden bridges in the area. At present, for the bridge that allows motorists, every private car owner pays N200 to cross the bridge and pays the same amount on the return trip. But commercial yellow buses are said to pay a lump sum of between N1,200 and N1,500 per day.

    For the other bridge that admits only commercial tricycles (Marwa) and commercial motorcycles (okada), patrons pay N500 each per day. The two bridges, which allow only pedestrians to cross, charge N30 and N50 per person and an equal amount on return respectively.

    Patrons of the three wooden bridges, mostly workers and traders who need “shortcuts” to their offices and markets, are grateful for the opportunity for the temporary relief the wooden bridges afford them. However, many residents want government’s intervention that will see a good network of roads that will put paid to the wooden bridges and open the two communities to each other.

    “The owners of the bridges have done a good job in providing a ‘shortcut’ for people, but if you go to those bridges, they are not properly maintained, despite the huge money they make daily. The day I had to cross one of the bridges with my SUV, an Honda CRV, I had to be praying silently because the wooden bridge was shaking as if it will cave in.

    “At a point, vehicles had to wait mid-way for one another to cross,” one of the patrons said.

    Another one said: “There were rumours that former Governor Babatunde Fashola came to inspect the wooden bridges one time during his regime. That raised hope that something will be done about the bridges but nothing came out of the rumour and it was still business as usual.

    “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been doing well. He has been doing some good roads at Ayobo area. We will be happy if he can extend the ‘magic’ to the wooden bridges and open up the area to Ayobo. That will even enhance commercial activities from both sides.”

  • ‘Why there’s power outage at Igando’

    The shortfall in electricity supply at Igando, Lagos, has been attributed to frequent vandalism of transformer and other facilities.
    Head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric Plc., Felix Ofulue, stated this yesterday. He called for community support in protecting the infrastructure.
    He said: “The criminal activities have plunged the over 6,000 households and businesses in and around Igando into darkness.
    “In the last two week, over 24 transformers were vandalised in Igando, leaving our customers in darkness, and this is worrisome, considering the discomfort and economic loss to this community. It is troubling and intolerable because innocent customers are suffering.”
    According to him, replacing the stolen assets was at a huge cost and would take time.
    Ofulue explained that the company will partner security agencies to track culprits, and encouraged residents to report suspected vandals to the appropriate authorities.
    “These vandals sometimes operate from within the community; they keep the stolen assets somewhere and sell to someone. It is possible that one or two people may see something. So, we are calling on these vigilant and patriotic residents to speak up so we can nip this in the bud.
    “Don’t forget that as a business, it is counter-productive to keep replacing assets in a particular location, spending our limited resources, when we could be expanding the network and improving supply in another,” he added.

  • Two shot in rival unions clash

    Two shot in rival unions clash

    Two persons were shot yesterday, properties destroyed during a clash between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Igando, Lagos.
    The fight, the second in a month, was said to have been caused by the refusal of motorcyclists and tricyclists to pay levies.
    It was gathered that the rival unions fought with guns and bottles at the bus stop. motorists and other road users fled for their lives.
    Policemen from Igando Division were said to have prevented an escalation of the crisis.
    They arrested six hoodlums and took them to the Area Command in Idimu.
    Command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the suspects would be charged to court.
    She said: “Yes, I confirm it’s a case between NURTW and RTEAN over control of tricycle and motorcycle operators. The fracas led to two seriously wounded. No death was recorded. Six suspects have been apprehended in connection with the case. They would be charged to court.”

  • Two injured as unions clash in Igando 

    Two injured as unions clash in Igando 

    At least two persons Monday sustained gunshot wounds with several properties damaged after members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria  (RTEAN) clashed in Igando, Lagos.

    The fight, which was the second in a month, was said to have been caused as a result of the refusal of motorcyclists and tricyclists to pay imposed levies.

    It was gathered that the factions brandishing guns and throwing bottles, fought at the bus stop, causing motorists and other road users to flee.

    Policemen from Igando Division were said to have moved enmasse to the scene, in order to prevent an escalation.

    In the course of restoring peace, six notorious hoodlums were arrested and transferred to the Area Command, Idimu.

    Command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police  (SP) confirmed the incident, adding that the arrested suspects would be charged to court.

    She said: “Yes, I confirm it’s a case between NURTW and RTEAN over control of tricycle and motorcycle operators. The fracas led to two seriously wounded. No death recorded. Six suspects have been apprehended in connection with the case. They would be charged to court.”

  • Bus driver’s death sparks protest in Igando

    Bus driver’s death sparks protest in Igando

    •Owoseni: he wasn’t killed by police

    Protest raged yesterday in Igando, a Lagos suburb, over Sunday’s alleged killing of a commercial bus driver by a policewoman.

    Olumuyiwa Ijaduola, 46, was allegedly killed by Corporal Taiwo around 4pm on Sunday over money matters.

    It was gathered that the policewoman beats the driver with her baton and dragged him off his bus. The driver fell, hit his head on the road and died on the spot.

    His death was said to have sparked a protest as his colleagues and hoodlums took to the street to demand justice.

    Following the incident, the policewoman said to be from Igando Division allegedly fled. Her colleagues were said to have shielded her from the mob.

    The police, it was gathered, retrieved Ijaduola’s body and took it to the mortuary without his family’s consent.

    The police also allegedly assaulted eyewitnesses, seized their phones and laptops in order to cover up the incident.

    An eyewitness, who pleaded not to be named, told The Nation on telephone that the policewoman dragged the driver to his death.

    He said: “It was around 4:30pm on Sunday. I was there. I saw the policewoman drag the bus driver. I was on the other side of the road at the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminal, so I crossed to the side of the incident. The policewoman just dragged the man out from the bus because he refused to give her N300.  So the driver gave her N100 but she bluntly refused the money. Then, she pushed him, the driver fell into a nearby soakaway and hit his head on the concrete slab and died instantly.”

    According to the witness, onlookers tried to rescue the deceased to no avail.

    “I took his phone and removed his Sim card and inserted it in my phone to get one or two people from his family, but no one has yet responded to the call and also some police officers came to carry the body but area boys did not allow them and that led to a fight between them including two soldiers.”

    The late Ijaduola’s brother, Tolulope, told The Nation that he, his wife, Zainab, and brother, Ayodeji, were assaulted, tear-gassed and detained for over three hours at Igando Police Station for demanding to see the body.

    He said the police also accused them of instigating the protesters who blocked some parts of the road.

    Ijaduola called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Commissioner of Police (CP) Fatai Owoseni to ensure justice is done, alleging that the police were trying to exonerate the culprits.

    He said: “They are claiming my brother fell on his own and that the woman was simply trying to help him. They are claiming that the woman did not touch him but eyewitnesses who were there have said the truth and are willing to testify in court and in public. The woman asked my brother for N2000 and he told her that he was just coming out. That he did not have money. There was one ‘area boy’ there who came to broker peace between them. He told my brother to give the police woman N500 but my brother told her that he only had N300 on him since he was just coming out.

    “He begged the woman to collect the N300 that he will balance her up when he returned but she got angry and started hitting him with her baton. Then, when he wanted to drive off without giving her any money again, she dragged him from the vehicle and he hit his head on the road and died instantly.

    “The incident occurred at NNPC bus stop, Igando. And those who saw it happened told us everything. They said the police took the woman away instantly and also carried my brother’s corpse to the mortuary.

    Ijaduola said news spread about his brother’s death and his colleagues went on protest.

    “But instead of the police to address our grievances, they turned and attacked myself, my wife and brother. They accused us of instigating the protest. They beat three of us. My brother was injured on his hand and I sustained injuries on my back.

    “They sprayed teargas on us and then arrested the three of us. We were locked inside the cell for over three hours with teargas on our faces. They even took the N7,000 I had on me and they did not return the money.

    “All we want is justice for our brother and for ourselves. The policewoman who killed our brother must be punished. We are begging people to come out and help us fight this case,” he said.

    It took soldiers’ intervention to restore peace and free traffic in the area; the mob stopped policemen from Igando from quelling the agitation.

    Reacting, Owoseni said the late Ijaduola suffered epileptic fit, adding that he was not killed by the policewoman.

    He said the policewoman could not have killed the driver because she was unarmed, adding that the matter was settled that Sunday evening, wondering why the protesters hit the road again yesterday.

  • Igando: Police whisk INEC officials away as election fails to hold

    INEC adhoc officials assigned to Ward 17 in Igando area of Lagos State have been whisked away by the police.

    Elections did not hold in the area following the inability of the Supervising Polling Officer (SPO) to provide presidential ballot box and sufficient materials needed for the election.

    The SPO was alleged to have been involved in some malpractises using the materials.

    He was brought to the polling centre twice by the DPO who was accompanied by armed policemen.

    The DPO did not make official statement.

    She only assured the angry crowd that she would bring back the SPO with the said materials.

    Other remaining officials were taken away after the police returned the second time at about 6:30pm.

    The voters thereafter left one after the other hoping that the election would hold Sunday.

    Akinyemi, an APC agent at the unit described the development as worrisome.  ”The INEC officials came by 12 noon and started accreditation by 1pm. By 3pm they said they wanted to end accreditation. They said the card reader was programmed to terminate by that time.

    “As I am talking to you not more than 300 voters were accredited out of over 6,000. We are in the dark about what is really happening. Neither the police nor INEC officials addressed us, “he said.

    Darlighton Obi, the PDP agent, said:  We have 600 people accredited today out of over 6,000 registered voters. The problem we are having is INEC because the parties are working together to make sure there is peace.”

    The white bus containing electoral materials that conveyed the INEC officials and three ballot boxes were abandoned at the centre leaving the police officers around to stay back and watch over them.