The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mayhem

  • Mayhem: Fayose imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew

    Mayhem: Fayose imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew (6pm-6am) on Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    Three persons were reportedly killed on Wednesday in a clash between drivers and Hausa traders.

    The clash paralysed traffic, commercial and social activities in the town for about eight hours.

    Fayose, who gave the order yesterday while addressing members of the Hausa community in Atikankan, directed security agencies to arrest anybody who flouts the order.

    The governor appealed to the restive community for calm and vowed that the perpetrators would be prosecuted.

    He warned those still carrying arms to submit them to the police, saying anyone caught with weapons would be dealt with.

    “I want to plead with you to submit whatever lethal weapon you have in your possession to the police. And if you refuse to do this, whether you are Yoruba or Hausa, the police will arrest you.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us and for the sake of our country, I plead with you to allow peace to reign,” Fayose said.

     The head of the Hausa Community, Adamu Imam, called on the government to compensate them for the loss incurred during the mayhem.

    Imam told the governor that the names of the perpetrators had been compiled and would be made available to the government and security agencies.

    The police said the number of victims has risen to 24. Its spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi, refuted the claim that three persons died in the incident.

    Adeyemi said two of the victims received gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    He added that the police have stationed three units of mobile policemen at the scene of the violent attack.

    Residents are still in fear as most shops and major markets are shut and deserted.

    A few traders went to inspect the remains of their businesses.

    A rice seller, Mrs. Ajoke Olofin, said all what she laboured for had gone. She called on the government to assist the victims.

    A Hausa trader, Adamu Umar, wept uncontrollably while inspecting the ruins of his shop at Oja Oba. He also called for the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.

    A widow, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Majiyagbe, said hoodlums burnt her six-room apartment, which was her source of livelihood.

    The umbrella body for non indigenes in the state, Non-Indigenes Youth Alliance, has condemned the attacks on their members.

    In a statement by its Acting Chairman, Abdulrahaman Oziandu, yesterday, the group said it never expected that its members’ shops will be looted in such a brazen manner.

    The body, which praised Fayose for his quick intervention in resolving the issue, called on security agencies to beef up security so that members can return to work.

    Oziandu said most of the victims were Igbo, Hausa, Nupe and Ebira traders, accusing the assailants of reselling the looted commodities at cheaper prices.

    He said: “Wednesday’s event was the second attack on non-indigenes. We are giving this last warning that this should not happen again. As non-indigenes, we will continue to conduct our businesses peacefully.

    “But we challenge the inability of the security agencies to be able to protect residents.  As we speak, 50 of our members are still receiving treatment in the hospital.

    “We call on the governor to come to the aid of the affected persons, so that they can return to business without delay.”

    The state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the Commissioner of Police, Etop James, to arrest the hoodlums who attacked some reporters.

    During the mayhem, the CORE TV cameraman, Sunday Adigun, was attacked and his camera destroyed.

    The NUJ Chairman, Laolu Omosilade, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, condemned the attack.

    He praised Fayose and Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, for their commitment in curbing violence in the state.

  • . . . arraign 11 over mayhem in Ogun community

    The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned 11 suspects for allegedly carrying out a violent attack in Ijoko, a community in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area in December 2014, during which vehicles and buildings belonging to some community leaders and the palace of the town’s monarch, Oba Kolapo Lasisi Ogunseye, were set ablaze.

    Those arraigned include Kayode Bambi Matanmi; Lukmon Matanmi; Gbemisola Odeleye; Lasisi Matanmi; Akeem Alatise; Rasaki Tijani; Alaba Awosika; Olamilekan Oladitan; Monsuru Matanmi; Sunday Adefuye and Akeem Fatai.

    The suspects were arraigned penultimate Wednesday before an Ota Magistrate Court on 28 count charge of arson, illegal possession of firearms; armed robbery, unlawful damage of property and attempted murder, among others.

    The police prosecutor, Sgt. Rosemary Brown, told the court that the suspects committed offence(s) punishable under various sections of the Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Sections 443,516,320 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

    The charge sheet reads in part:” That you Kayode Bambi Matanmi’m’; Lukmon Matanmi’m’; Gbemisola Odeleye’m’; Lasisi Matanmi’m’; Akeem Alatise’m’; Rasaki Tijani’m’; Alaba Awosika’m’; Olamilekan Oladitan’m’; Monsuru Matanmi’m’; Sunday Adefuye’m’; Akeem Fatai’m’ and others still at large on December 23, 2014, at about 5 pm, along Palace Road, Railway Station, Ijoko, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did willfully and unlawfully set fire to a house containing chieftaincy regalia including seven royal crowns; about two hundred clothes; other royal ornamental wears and some vital documents valued at twenty million naira(N20,000,000) property of Oba Lasisi Kolapo Ogunseye and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 443 of Criminal Code Law of Ogun State,2006.”

    “That you Kayode Bambi Matanmi’m’; Lukmon Matanmi’m’; Gbemisola Odeleye’m’; Lasisi Matanmi’m’; Akeem Alatise’m’; Rasaki Tijani’m’; Alaba Awosika’m’; Olamilekan Oladitan’m’; Monsuru Matanmi’m’; Sunday Adefuye’m’; Akeem Fatai’m’ and others still at large on November 24, 2014, at about 1:15 am at No11 Mabayomije Street, Ntabo, Ijoko in the aforementioned Magisterial District did rob Alhaji Amidu Adeniji of his sum of N37,000 cash and at the time of the robbery you were armed with offensive weapons to wit; guns, cutlasses and axe and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearm(Special Provision) Act Cap R.II Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004.

    “That you Kayode Bambi Matanmi’m’; Lukmon Matanmi’m’; Gbemisola Odeleye’m’; Lasisi Matanmi’m’; Akeem Alatise’m’; Rasaki Tijani’m’; Alaba Awosika’m’; Olamilekan Oladitan’m’; Monsuru Matanmi’m’; Sunday Adefuye’m’; Akeem Fatai’m’ and others still at large on December 27, 2014, at about 3:30pm at the same place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully have in your possession one hundred and eighty live cartridges and eleven expended cartridges without licence or permit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 27(a) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Cap F 28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

    The suspects however pleaded not guilty.

    The presiding magistrate, A. Shoneye, ordered that the suspects should be remanded in the prison custody while the case was adjourned till April 10.

    It will be recalled that the thin line that held the peace of the community snapped on December 23, 2014 when suspected loyalists of a rival traditional ruler of the town, Oba Alani Matanmi, allegedly attacked the palace of Oba Ogunseye. They were said to have set the palace ablaze and vandalized some vehicles belonging to some traditional chiefs of the town who were holding their meeting there.

    Following the December attack, the spokesman of the Ogun State Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement had disclosed the arrest of about nine suspects and the recovery of arms and ammunition from the palace of Oba Matanmi.

    The statement read in part: “Following the recent crises that rocked Ijoko town in Ado Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, the state police command has embarked on proper investigation by pouncing on the perpetrators of the crises that lasted for days and arrested nine suspects with arms and ammunition. The investigation prompted the police teams from the Department of Criminal Investigation and Police Mobile Force, coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of operations, Mr Egberebi Egbuson, to conduct search and raids on the palaces and premises of the two disputing rulers, Oba Matanmi and Oba Ogunseye in the night of December 27,where nine suspects were arrested and 12 locally made single barreled guns, two pump action guns,191 cartridges, two cutlasses, one axe, charms and masquerade clothing were recovered in the palace of Oba Matanmi and one butt of a locally made single barreled gun was recovered in the palace of Oba Ogunseye who has also been indicted by some suspects arrested in a case of shooting and wounding that occurred at a filling station in Agbado area of Ogun State on December 26, 2014.

    “The suspects will soon appear in court after the investigation into the matter has been concluded with a view to finding a lasting solution to any act of violence and break down of law and order in the area and other parts of the state and to serve as a deterrent to those who are fond of creating crises on obaship and land cases in Ogun State,” he added.

  • OPC mayhem: Group condemns pressure on South west

    A coalition of youth groups under the banner of the Congress of South West Youths has condemned what it described as undue political pressures being placed on the South West zone by President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

    Reacting to the mayhem unleashed on the state on Monday by the Gani Adams led faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, in a press briefing at NIJ,  Ikeja Thursday, the youths condemned the presidents recent visits to the state which is a direct consequence of the OPC atrocities in the state on Monday.

    Addressing the press, Ahmed Shomoye, president of the group said   “recently  Mr. President suddenly became frequent flier to the zone dashing out tax payers’ money to all categories of people to seek electoral supports while he continues to promote violence using a faction of the OPC to perpetrate violent political agenda.

    “We want to warn strongly that the youths across the South West will rise up to defend our region, protect our people and stand firm against what we see as external aggression in view of the fact that any violence that strikes in Lagos State is capable of creating multiplier effect on other States across the South West zone.

    “Political history from the 3rd republic is still fresh in our memories and we will not allow the South West to become the center for erupting political violence considering the body language of President Goodluck Jonathan around violence instigations,” Shomoye said.

    He condemned the continued “polarization and partisanship of the Nigerian security formations. Whatever the gains are for the PDP now, we are more than convinced this is not healthy and also not in the best interest of our country. The security formations in their respective ranks should be allowed to operate as established by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is not the first time the ruling party will be unleashing mayhem on the opposition party, with the manipulation of the security apparatus of the nation and we hope it is stopped in the larger interest of Nigerians.”

    The group said it was  particularly disturbed by the fact that the same administration promising youth oriented programmes is spending so much to make thuggery and banditry lucrative to the youths. “We will not fold our arms and watch this happen. We will continue to embark on orientation and re-orientation of the Nigerian youths on the need to participate positively in the developmental process this country badly needs”.

    Shomoye called on youths across the South West to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses but vigilant to political development around them.

    “We enjoin our colleagues in the zone to protect and guard our nascent democracy by ensuring they come out enmasse to vote for candidates of their choice on election days and ensure their votes are counted; and to resist any move by whatever party to scuttle the ongoing process either by way of election postponement, removal of INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega or rejection of the use of Card Reader for the election as scheduled.”

    The group said it considers the move by the OPC and the PDP in the show of violence in Lagos on Monday as a dubious approach to instigate unnecessary crises. “Every of their steps were not only violent but also targeted at having law abiding Lagosians to retaliate and have same degenerate into anarchy.

    “The task of salvaging what is left of our beloved country, Nigeria and providing Nigerians with the kind of leadership they deserve are for us very important assignments that give no time to join issues with common criminals and bandits being sponsored to instigate violence.

    “We also want to call on youths across the country to be wary of the kind of tasks they are paid to carry out in the process of these elections. As far as we are concerned, we are better-of harnessing the strength in our numbers to vote-in credible people with programmes that can create a healthy system for youths to grow and take up key roles and responsibilities in the country,” Shomoye said.

    He implored youths to eschew violence and/or the urge to be violent and take out time to pick their PVCs which is indeed the power they have to vote for credible change.

  • Obiano averts mayhem in community

    •Monarch, elders settle quarrel

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano at the weekend averted what would have been a mayhem in Awka. He suspended the election of a president-general until after the general elections.

    The monarch of the kingdom, Obi Gibson Nwosu and the Ozo society, who had been at loggerheads for four years, reconciled.

    The suspension of the election into the position held by Tony Okechukwu, an engineer, whose tenure would end on March 17, was contained in a letter to the community by the state government, written by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oseloka Obaze.

    The meeting was held in the home of the head of Ozo society and the oldest Ozo in the land, Ozo Obiorah Eselu.

    The community hailed Obiano for what he was doing in Awka and his intervention in the looming crisis over the president-general election.

    Comrade Obi Ochije, the chairman of 20 villages in the community (Ezinano), said Obiano’s intervention was an achievement.

  • PDP denies plot to cause mayhem in Edo

    PDP denies plot to cause mayhem in Edo

    The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied the accusation by the state government that it planned to cause mayhem and kill prominent residents.

    The party accused the government of raising political tension through what it called an “unguarded, careless and reckless statement”.

    It said Governor Adams Oshiomhole should be held responsible, if a political crisis occured in the state.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP said Oshiomhole’s allegations showed that the state government had not desisted from its old ways of raising false accusations and alarms.

    It reads: “It is now customary for Governor Oshiomhole to criminally accuse the PDP whenever he intends to divert attention from burning issues from which he is likely to be ‘damaged’.

    “Oppressing and threatening a prince of the Benin Kingdom is a taboo that the Bini consider a sacrilege; the governor will need more than unfounded accusations to remove the curse in his action against the royal institution of the great Benin people.

    “As the governor did in the months preceding the July 2012 elections, he has engaged in false accusations of planned assassination.

    “Let it be on record that the Edo State Police Command and the Department of Security Service (DSS) absolved the PDP of any complicity in the death of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, the late private principal secretary to the governor, who was felled by armed robbers.”

  • Govt: anti-democratic forces plot killings, mayhem in Edo

    Govt: anti-democratic forces plot killings, mayhem in Edo

    The Edo State Government said yesterday it had uncovered a plot by “anti-democratic forces” to start high-profile killings ahead of the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

    The objective, the government alleged, was not only to sow fear in the minds of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters but to also make the state ungovernable for Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    In a statement in Benin, the state capital, by Information and Orientation Commissioner Louis Odion, the government said: “The new evil agenda is akin to the one unleashed in 2012 ahead of the governorship election in which the Principal Private Secretary to the governor, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, was brutally murdered. Till date, the killers are yet to be brought to justice.

    “On the latest hit list are key figures in the administration, APC leaders, a vocal palace chief as well as journalists considered too independent-minded and unwilling to file fabricated stories to promote the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “To achieve this, hard-boiled cultists, who were contracted to attack and vandalise the Edo House of Assembly quarters last year, have again been recruited and given mobilisation running into millions of naira and other logistics support from Abuja early this week through a local cleric-politician.

    “The destabilisation scheme is conceived, funded and directed by a group of PDP leaders based in Abuja alongside their underlings in Edo State in the cold calculation that once the teeming supporters of Comrade Oshiomhole were frightened away, the PDP would then dominate the Edo space.

    “The vocal palace chief being targeted, we gathered, is the Esogban of Bini Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, who is also the leader of the influential Benin Forum. The PDP leaders were said to be uncomfortable with Chief Edebiri’s unrelenting criticism…”

  • Okorocha accuses PDP of plotting mayhem

    Okorocha accuses PDP of plotting mayhem

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has accused the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of taking advantage of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state to flout laws.

    He also accused the party of engaging in actions inimical to peace and security.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said: “It has become obvious that while government has left no stone unturned in its effort to ensure peace and security of life and property, the chieftains of the PDP have refused or failed to appreciate and reciprocate these godly actions.”

    He added: “The party has concentrated on actions aimed at frustrating the peaceful dispositions of the governor by using every opportunity to provoke the government and cause trouble.”

    According to the statement, “again, having read the political handwriting on the wall that Imo people have distanced or isolated themselves from the party, the chieftains of the PDP have taken refuge or resorted to violence and provoking utterances, using every opportunity they have, to do this.

    “For instance, the PDP chieftains were expected to use the coming of Mr. President to the state to market him and their party by telling the people what they have gained from the PDP-led Federal Government after giving the party the highest number of votes of over one million in 2011 after Rivers State and talk about the party’s failed governments in the state for 12 years. They have instead tried to use the President’s coming to cause trouble.

    “The PDP chieftains know that since 2012, there are strategic areas in the capital where the government has outlawed the mounting of billboards in the interest of the people.

    “Such law does not only exist in Imo State, there are laws like that even in Abuja. But a PDP chieftain deliberately went to such location and mounted a billboard on Friday.

    “They deliberately did that to provoke the government and blackmail the governor. This is why the question should be, why did the PDP chieftains wait till 24 hours to Mr. President’s coming before mounting the billboard, if not to use it as a blackmail?

    “It is also disturbing that the PDP elements always wait for the time the President wants to come to the state before showing concern about him. They do not talk about the president even in their campaigns. They do not even tell Imo people why they should vote for Jonathan. But whenever the No 1 citizen wants to come to the state, you see them embarking on fire brigade actions.

    “To further deceive Mr. President, they recruited people for more than a week from neighbouring states, such as Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra and they despatched 20 buses each to these states to bring people for the rally in Owerri, having known the apathy the people of the state have developed for the party for disappointing them for 12 years.”

    The governor’s aide said government did not remove the billboards of any candidate.

    “Even the ones owned by those who abuse the governor on a daily basis have not been removed.

    “It has become necessary to let the PDP chieftains know that there is a sitting government in the state. And it is the responsibility of every responsible government to ensure the obedience of its ordinances.

    “We challenge the Imo PDP chieftains to tell Mr. President the truth for the first time about the pitiable state of the party caused by the disappointment it gave the people when it ruled for 12 years and tell him why they don’t talk about him and his government except when he wants to visit the state.

    “We appeal to the security agencies, which have earned the confidence and respect of the people with the way they have fought crimes, not to fall to the antics of the PDP.

    “The people’s governor and his administration will work for the peace of the state and will not be deterred by the provoking tendencies of the Imo PDP chieftains.”

  • Ekiti: Soldiers take over state capital

    Ekiti: Soldiers take over state capital

    Soldiers yesterday took over the streets of Ado-Ekiti to restore order after 24 hours of arson and bloodletting by thugs.

    The soldiers patrolled the state capital to ensure there was no repeat of the Thursday night murder of a former chairman of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, Chief Omolafe Aderiye, and the Friday burning of Governor Kayode Fayemi Campaign Secretariat and some vehicle in the premises by thugs.

    Twice, earlier in the week, hoodlums had attacked perceived political opponents of the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, within the premises of the State High Court, Ado Ekiti after Justice Isaac Ogunyemi assumed jurisdictional power to hear and try Fayose in a case instituted by E-11, a socio-political group based in the state, over his eligibility to contest for the June 21 governorship election.

    Justice Ogunyemi had dismissed the application by counsel to the Governor-elect which challenged the court’s competence to try the case.

    The PDP accused Governor Fayemi and his party, APC, of masterminding Aderiye’s murder.

    The former NURTW leader was allegedly shot at close range while relaxing with friends and associates about 8:30pm at his office at Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, by men dressed in mobile police uniform.

    The assailants sped off in a white car as soon as they accomplished their mission.

    As the day broke on Friday, hoodlums attacked the governor’s campaign office and set it and some vehicles parked therein ablaze.

    Fayemi went on air and imposed a curfew with a view to stemming the violence.

    He blamed the Governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, and the PDP for instigating the arson, and the police for not intervening.

    “I am advised incontrovertibly that thugs acting on the command of Mr. Ayo Fayose, who was also present to lend his clout to the travesty, brazenly assaulted a senior judge and urged his thugs to beat him up and tear his clothes,” Gov. Fayemi said, adding that the thugs whose action exceeded the limits of acceptable behaviour, carried out their scandalous attacks in the “full glare of law enforcement agents”.

    According to him, the failure of the security agents to deal appropriately with the court invasions emboldened them to unleash terror later in the week.

    However, the soldiers deployed yesterday went round in trucks.

    Many shops in the town remained shut over fear of fresh trouble.

    The state Police Command said it has arrested some suspects in connection with the court invasion.

    But no arrest has yet been made in connection with the assassination of Aderiye.

    The command, in a statement said the Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu,  personally “led a section of mobile and conventional policemen out all night and was able to forestall the breakdown of law and order generated by the killing.”

    It  enjoined the people to comply with the dust to dawn curfew order made by the governor  and warned that “any person or group of persons found flouting the order or breaking the law will be adequately dealt with in accordance with the law.”

    Meanwhile, the Ekiti State PDP yesterday described the Friday broadcast by Governor Fayemi as a further demonstration of  his insensitivity.

    The party wondered why the governor would address the state without making reference to the murdered Aderiye or sympathising with his family.

    The governor visited the bereaved family on Friday.

    It said:”Instead of showing concern for the soul already lost, Fayemi’s concern was ‘Court Cases’ with which he intends to remain in power despite that Ekiti people rejected him totally on June 21, 2014. This is the height of wickedness!”

    It dismissed as an aberration his directive to the state Attorney General to issue a legal advisory to the Chief Judge of the state and all the parties to the existing cases in the State High Court and the Ekiti State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal, on the desirability of seeking an alternative venue for the hearing of these cases outside the state.

    “Obviously, Fayemi has lost it all. The governor has allowed himself to be taken over by desperation to remain in power such that he could not understand that what he asked the Attorney-General to do simply amount to interfering in the workings of the judiciary, a separate arm of government,” the PDP said.

  • Soldiers unleash mayhem in Lagos over death of colleague

    Soldiers unleash mayhem in Lagos over death of colleague

    It was all fury at  Palmgrove,Lagos yesterday  after soldiers  seized  a  stretch of the ever busy Ikorodu Road, vandalising vehicles ,beating up motorists and commuters and disrupting traffic flow for several hours.

    Thousands of motorists and commuters  caught in the  breakdown of law and order ran  helter skelter   for their lives.Many motorists abandoned their cars.Commuters  were harassed by the soldiers and street urchins who cashed in on the situation to deprive people of  money,handsets and other valuables.

    Newspaper photographers who rushed to the scene were  also attacked by the soldiers and hoodlums.Their cameras were either seized or smashed.

    No fewer than four buses belonging to the Lagos State –owned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) were burnt and eight others vandalised.

    The soldiers were venting  their anger over the alleged killing of a fellow soldier in a  motor cycle accident at the Idi-Iroko Bus Stop on the road earlier in the day.

    They  blamed a BRT bus for killing the soldiers.

    There were two versions of how the soldier died.

    One was that the soldier rammed into the broken-down BRT bus  and died instantly.

    The vehicle was said to have been parked on that spot since Wednesday after developing a fault.

    Apparently,there was no hazard warning  to alert other road users  to danger ahead.

    The other version was that  two soldiers were  riding  motorcycle on a BRT lane when they were hit by a LAGBUS at 9 am.

    One died instantly and the other slightly injured.

    The deceased soldier was said  to be  on the back seat of the motorcycle when tragedy struck. Small motorcycles are banned from plying Lagos highways.

    Witnesses said the second soldier then rushed to a nearby barracks and mobilised his colleagues to the accident scene. About a hundred of them rushed to the scene and immediately went on the rampage.

    They were soon joined by the area boys  to unleash terror on passers-by.

    There were no deaths or injuries in the incident. The soldiers blocked the road and s gridlock soon ensued.

    Policemen looked on as the soldiers and the street urchins terrorised innocent citizens.

    Drivers and passengers inside BRT buses fled as the rampaging soldiers went for them. Passengers of smaller buses had to abandon the buses and run for their lives.

    As the traffic situation on the road deteriorated,commercial vehicle drivers hiked their fares.

    Commercial activites in and around the area were paralysed for as long as the rampage lasted  as shops and offices shut down

    Television stations broadcast pictures of the buses up in flames.  Twitter  and Facebook buzzed with comments from  residents lampooning the soldiers for their action.

    NURTW 1st BRT,the transport company which is in charge of the operation of the  Bus Rapid Transit buses plying Mile 12 to TBS route  denied  that its vehicle killed any soldier yesterday.

    Public Relations Officer of the company, Nonye Onwumere, said in a statement that the deceased soldier  ran into a stationary LAGBUS bus and died in the process.

    She said: “On Thursday night, a red LAGBUS, which is run by Mutual Assurance and marked Mo63, broke down on Ikorodu Road before Palmgrove Bus Stop. Early in the morning, around 7.15am, a military personnel on a bike, driving on top speed, ran into the stationary bus.

    “After the accident, three female and two male soldiers going to work, alighted from a vehicle to help their colleague. After seeing the extent of the accident, they gathered and became violent, stopping all BRT buses and ordering the passengers down. They beat some of the passengers and BRT personnel and then set some of our vehicles ablaze. They did not even care to know that our BRT are different from the red buses.

    “The accident, which was not caused by our vehicle, has caused enormous losses as four of the buses which are not up to a month old have been burnt beyond repair while 13 others have been seriously vandalised. We lost over N100m”

    “According to corridor supervisors at the scene, four BRT personnel were beaten and abducted by the soldiers but were later released.”

    An eyewitness who gave his name as Bade said: “  a few minutes after the incident occurred, we just saw a lorry load of armed military men. They set a BRT bus ablaze.

    “ An officer among them  who probably was averse to the action tried to put out the fire.  The situation went out of hand after another officer who was boiling with rage charged the junior officers to show what makes them different from civilians.

    “Immediately he made the statement, the soldiers   went wild , setting ablaze every BRT bus that came their way  and vandalizing several others.  They vandalized no fewer  than seven buses. They did not limit their anger to the buses alone. They also unleashed terror on innocent road users who were trying to use their Ipads, camera phones and other devices to take shots of the burning buses. Some of the victims had their devices seized and smashed by the soldiers. Others were thoroughly beaten and later released for attempting to take photographs of the scene.”

    A BRT bus driver  who preferred anonymity said he and  his passengers were  forced to disembark from the bus by the angry soldiers. “Immediately they ordered us to get down, they instructed us to frog jump. I can’t remember the last time I did such a strenuous exercise.  ”

    A  resident  who  gave his name as Sunday  berated the military for the action saying: “Even if their colleague was truly killed by a BRT bus driver, they shouldn’t have gone ahead to unleash terror on the people.   ”It was an accident which could have happened to anyone. If all of us act like this every time someone is killed in an accident, what would become of the state and the country at large?

    Spokesperson for  the  81 Division of the Nigerian Army , Lt Col OA  Ochagwub said of the development: “This morning  (yesterday) between 6:30 – 6:45am, a BRT bus knocked down and killed a soldier around Obanikoro area while on his way to the office.

    “The driver of the bus took the body of the soldier into the bus and attempted to drive away. But when the other soldiers who witnessed the incident rushed to the scene, the driver of the bus ran away with the key. The soldiers then secured the vehicle which was later towed away to safety in our custody.

    “Area boys then took advantage of the incident and started attacking BRT Buses. From observation you  will discover that, the BRT buses bunt are far away from the scene of the incident and that the BRT bus in particular that killed the soldier was not attacked nor vandalized and it is still intact.

    “Our personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene to restore normalcy. So that traffic could flow. .

  • Women raped, 40 vehicles vandalised at Ibadan carnival

    Mayhem was unleashed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, penultimate Friday morning, when no fewer than 40 commercial buses and private cars were vandalised by hoodlums who hijacked a night carnival holding at Idikan area of the city.

    About 10 people were also reported to have been wounded in the fracas, which happened in the early hours of the day, while some of the female victims were reportedly assaulted sexually.

    It was learnt that the carnival, which was organised by youths in the area, went on peacefully until about 10pm when some hoodlums descended on them unprovoked, thereby bringing the fun-filled carnival to an abrupt end. The youth and some adults gathered around First Baptist Church at Idikan for the carnival.

    Eyewitnesses told The Nation that the trouble makers were overpowered and repelled successfully, but that they later came back about midnight, this time, heavily armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons, with which they freely attacked anyone on sight, including some women who they sexually assaulted.

    It was learnt that policemen stormed the area following report of the brawl by residents, but that the few policemen retreated when they could not overpower the hoodlums on their return after their initial defeat.

    This time, the hoodlums descended on vehicles parked in the area and vandalised about 50. They include commercial buses and private cars belonging to both residents and participants at the carnival. They were parked at both sides of the road at Idikan and the adjoining areas – Ayeye and Opooyeosa. They also ransacked and stole money and valuables from the vehicles.

    When The Nation visited the scene of the ugly incident, residents were reluctant to speak with our reporters as they were still living in the fear of a deadly return of the attackers. Many shops were still closed in the area.

    But no fewer than four police vans were seen patrolling the street to ensure security of life and property.

    An eyewitness, who spoke to our reporters on condition of anonymity, said about 10 women were either sexually assaulted or wounded in the fracas, but preferred not to report to the police due to the shame attached to the act.

    When asked about the vandalised vehicles, she said they had been taken away by their owners for repairs after the Chairman of Ibadan Northwest Local Government, Mr Wasiu Olatunbosun, promised to give the victims N20,000 each to help ease the cost of repairs.

    One of the victims, Mr Tunde Kazeem, whose Volkswagen Golf was damaged, told The Nation that the hoodlums stormed the area a few minutes after midnight and damaged the vehicles parked at both sides of the roads despite the fact that their owners were not at the carnival.

    He noted that they were frightened to come out and confront them because it was late, adding that they called the police but they did not respond to their distress call immediately.

    “We did not want to challenge them when they were destroying our cars because they were heavily armed and they may kill us in the process. The government should ban all these irrelevant carnivals outright. We do not want them again,” he said.

    Lamenting the illegal raiding and arrest of the innocent youth in the area by the police, Sola Sonubi said that many youths have since fled the area as police men are parading the streets, arresting innocent people and beating up the youths.

    He also disclosed though Mr Olatunbosun had banned carnivals and night parties in the council, some youths still held another carnival on Monday.

    Sonubi urged the state government to ban carnivals and ensure compliance among residents.

    But, Alhaji Kamil Badru, a landlord of over 35 years in the area, described the fracas as “hell,” noting that the boys are cultists who need to be apprehended on time in order to safeguard lives and property.

    Ten suspects have been arrested by the police over the incident.

    The state’s Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Inyeng Ignatius, said those arrested would be prosecuted if they are found culpable in the fracas. “We don’t want to punish innocent persons, so thorough investigation will be carried out and after that those found to be directly involved will be prosecuted,“ he said.

    He added: “People were picked at random and that is why we don’t want to punish innocent ones, thorough investigation will be conducted.”

    When contacted, Olatunbosun alleged that the attack was politically motivated. He said some opposition politicians are bent on creating the impression that the city is not safe, hence they sponsored the attack during Sallah period when many indigenes came to celebrate with their family from all parts of the country.

    “From my investigations, those hoodlums were not from our local government. It was politically motivated. They were bent on creating the impression that the city is not safe, but they will never succeed. God’s hand is in the progress being made in Oyo State and whoever wants to stand against God cannot succeed.”

    The council boss pledged to ensure that culprits were prosecuted to serve as deterrent.

    He promised to assist those whose cars were vandalised during the attack.