The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr Fatai Owoseni

  • Kidnapping: Efforts on to rescue Iba monarch, others – Ambode

    Kidnapping: Efforts on to rescue Iba monarch, others – Ambode

    …Convenes emergency Security Council meeting with Police, Service Chiefs

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday presided over an emergency security council meeting attended by heads of security agencies in the State, just as the State Government assured residents that efforts are being put in place to make kidnapping a thing of the past in the State.

    Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said government and all security agencies in the State are bordered about the emerging crime of kidnapping, and that efforts are on to rescue all those kidnapped recently in the State including the Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni.

    “What we want to assure the people is that we are putting efforts together to ensure that not just the monarch is rescued but also other victims of kidnapping are rescued and we bring those criminals to justice,” Owoseni said.

    He added that the emergency Security Council meeting was principally to holistically appraise the security issues confronting the State, as well to assure members of the public on the priority and importance that the State attached to their welfare and security.

    Speaking on the spate of kidnapping in the State, Owoseni said: “All of us are bordered. As the people are bordered, government is bordered and law enforcement institutions in the State are bordered. We are looking at the issue of kidnapping and the only thing we can tell the good people in Lagos is that government is doing everything possible and is deploying all arsenals of the State towards ensuring that we put a stop to all these and at the same time seize this opportunity to tell the fellows engaging in these activities to channel their energy to lawful conduct because there is no excuse to say that because they cannot vandalize the pipelines again, that is why they are resorting to all these soft targets kidnapping.

    “They should divert their energy into productive use. The government has opened up lots of opportunities for people that want to access soft loans for small scale businesses and industries, the Bank of Industry (BOI) for instance is there, they have been putting up adverts, let them have a change of mind, drop their weapons, access these funds that government at the State and federal level had created and for those of them that have certificates and saying that yes we have stopped bunkering and there is no other thing for us to do, there are platforms that have been created by government for them to be meaningfully employed,” the CP said.

    Owoseni, who addressed journalists alongside heads of other security agencies in the State, the State Attorney General, urged members of the public to stop patronizing street traders, saying there have been instances where criminal elements hide within them to launch havoc on unsuspecting citizens.

    He said the law against street trading had always been in place even before Governor Ambode came into office, but that the enforcement was being implemented responsibly considering the mood of the society.

    He said: “The law has been there even before the present executive governor came into power, so what we are doing as responsible government and responsible security and law enforcement institutions is to further engage like the Governor did last time on television on the evils of street trading.

    “It is not just about stopping the street trading, it also has the security elements. The fellows that are on the roads under the guise that they are selling, some of them are also criminals. There are criminals hiding within them to commit some havoc and for people that are also patronizing them like the Governor has said, everybody is just thinking this is a new law but it is not. We know the mood of the society and we want to balance our enforcement and that is why we are doing a lot of public enlightenment.

    “We are also telling our people that some of those people that they patronize, some of them sell things that would cause havoc to the people. Some of those items they sell are either expired or poisoned because they know you are on the move and you want to grab quickly.

    “Some of these guys also carry weapons under their shirt that they can use to harm people including those beggars. So, these things put together, it is going to be a win-win situation if our people avoid patronizing street hawkers and the hawkers can also form a formidable front and meet the government and ask for the creation of corner shops for them. They are on the roads and vehicles can also hit them, so there are lots of dangers involved and that is why we are engaging the people via enlightenment on the dangers involved,” he said.

  • Kidnapping: Efforts on to rescue Iba monarch, others – Ambode

    …Convenes Emergency Security Council Meeting With Police, Service Chiefs

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday presided over an emergency security council meeting attended by heads of security agencies in the State, just as the State Government assured residents that efforts are being put in place to make kidnapping a thing of the past in the State.

    Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said government and all security agencies in the State are bordered about the emerging crime of kidnapping, and that efforts are on to rescue all those kidnapped recently in the State including the Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni.

    “What we want to assure the people is that we are putting efforts together to ensure that not just the monarch is rescued but also other victims of kidnapping are rescued and we bring those criminals to justice,” Owoseni said.

    He added that the emergency Security Council meeting was principally to holistically appraise the security issues confronting the State, as well to assure members of the public on the priority and importance that the State attached to their welfare and security.

    Speaking on the spate of kidnapping in the State, Owoseni said: “All of us are bordered. As the people are bordered, government is bordered and law enforcement institutions in the State are bordered. We are looking at the issue of kidnapping and the only thing we can tell the good people in Lagos is that government is doing everything possible and is deploying all arsenals of the State towards ensuring that we put a stop to all these and at the same time seize this opportunity to tell the fellows engaging in these activities to channel their energy to lawful conduct because there is no excuse to say that because they cannot vandalize the pipelines again, that is why they are resorting to all these soft targets kidnapping.

    “They should divert their energy into productive use. The government has opened up lots of opportunities for people that want to access soft loans for small scale businesses and industries, the Bank of Industry (BOI) for instance is there, they have been putting up adverts, let them have a change of mind, drop their weapons, access these funds that government at the State and federal level had created and for those of them that have certificates and saying that yes we have stopped bunkering and there is no other thing for us to do, there are platforms that have been created by government for them to be meaningfully employed,” the CP said.

    Owoseni, who addressed journalists alongside heads of other security agencies in the State, the State Attorney General, urged members of the public to stop patronizing street traders, saying there have been instances where criminal elements hide within them to launch havoc on unsuspecting citizens.

    He said the law against street trading had always been in place even before Governor Ambode came into office, but that the enforcement was being implemented responsibly considering the mood of the society.

    He said: “The law has been there even before the present executive governor came into power, so what we are doing as responsible government and responsible security and law enforcement institutions is to further engage like the Governor did last time on television on the evils of street trading.

    “It is not just about stopping the street trading, it also has the security elements. The fellows that are on the roads under the guise that they are selling, some of them are also criminals. There are criminals hiding within them to commit some havoc and for people that are also patronizing them like the Governor has said, everybody is just thinking this is a new law but it is not. We know the mood of the society and we want to balance our enforcement and that is why we are doing a lot of public enlightenment.

    “We are also telling our people that some of those people that they patronize, some of them sell things that would cause havoc to the people. Some of those items they sell are either expired or poisoned because they know you are on the move and you want to grab quickly.

    “Some of these guys also carry weapons under their shirt that they can use to harm people including those beggars. So, these things put together, it is going to be a win-win situation if our people avoid patronizing street hawkers and the hawkers can also form a formidable front and meet the government and ask for the creation of corner shops for them. They are on the roads and vehicles can also hit them, so there are lots of dangers involved and that is why we are engaging the people via enlightenment on the dangers involved,” he said.

  • Lagos taskforce arrests fake Army lieutenant

    Lagos taskforce arrests fake Army lieutenant

    The Lagos State Task Force has arrested a fake military man, Mr. Oluwayelu Adewole Rahmon claiming to be a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the taskforce, Adebayo Taofiq, sequel to the arrest, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni directed  Task Force Chairman SP. Olayinka Egbeyemi to immediately charge the fake soldier to court for impersonation.

    “Owoseni said the Lagos State Police Command and other security operatives across the State would continue to arrest miscreants and criminals at their different hide-outs until they have a change of mind of becoming good citizens.

    Adebayo said the suspect Mr. Oluwayelu Adeboye  (27 years) of No. 4 Union Street, Dopemu, Agege claimed to be 2nd Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in order to secure the release of an impounded commercial vehicle by the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force.

    “The suspect who according to investigations was rusticated from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro (2014) for same offence of impersonation claimed that he had at many instances deceived different security formations across the country.

    “Further investigation equally revealed that the suspect was an habitual impersonator who had once also impersonated the son of a General in the Nigerian Army during an interview where he wanted to secure admission into Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

    “He disclosed that he has variously at different times and places  impersonated  as both officer of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Police in order to secure the release of anyone arrested at different Police stations across Lagos”, the PRO said.

    Adewole, Adebayo said, equally impersonates through telephone conversations for release of impounded vehicles from different law enforcers and that if he had succeeded he would have charged the  owner of the impounded vehicle for a fee of  N15,000 or more.

    “The suspect narrated that he was on his way to Ogba in Ikeja to collect his original Year 2010 West African Examination School Certificate results with examination No 20108040DC when he saw operatives of the Agency impounding someone’s vehicle for traffic obstructions and that he felt it was another good business for him as usual, that was why he quickly intervened.

    He claimed he is among those shortlisted for the new recruitment into the Nigerian Police Force.

    The impounded commercial vehicle belong to one Mr Muritala Feyisola Ayowunmi, an Officer of the Nigerian  Navy of Military Clearing Office, Wharf at Apapa who lives at BT 88, Flat 10A, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos.

    “The suspect confirmed further that he followed the owner of the impounded commercial vehicle to Lagos State Task Force Headquarters  at Ikeja where he was interrogated by the Chairman SP Olayinka Egbeyemi and later got arrested with his fake documents”.

    The PRO said the suspect said it was the devil work, “he however pleaded promising to repent and be a good citizen if the government could have mercy and release him.

    “The owner of the impounded commercial vehicle Ayowunmi denied knowing the suspect, claiming that he just came to him and introduced himself as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army and ‘I gave him a full compliments as a Senior Officer only to later find out after interrogation at Lagos Task Force Headquarters that he was an impersonator,”  Adebayo said.

  • Maryland riot act of terrorism – Lagos CP

    Maryland riot act of terrorism – Lagos CP

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni has termed as terrorist acts, the violence that followed the death of a street hawker along Maryland on Wednesday.

    Mr Owoseni said this while delivering a lecture titled: ‘Youth and Terrorism’ to pupils of over 50 schools in a career guidance and counselling programme organised by the Federal ministry of information and culture with Goge Africa Foundation (GAF) at the National Theatre.

    Condemning the incident, he said: “Take an example of what happened at Maryland this week. Even after one of the street hawkers had been knocked down by a vehicle, rather than people helping the security agents to quickly remove the corpse from the road, the street urchins seemed to be jubilant, going on the streets to destroy things, including BRT buses that were provided by government for the good of the people.”

    Owoseni added: “We need to guide our youths who are vulnerable citizens so that they will not be used as agents of terrorism. All of us can be a change. Make the right choice when people are in distress.”

    The Commissioner blamed the nation’s economic downturn, including electricity failure, unemployment, inflation, among others, to acts of terrorism.

    He said: “Why do you think your mothers use the money they should use to buy you new clothes and other things to buy fuel, and some parents don’t have jobs, and we are experiencing so many economic setbacks? It is because terrorism leads to economic and infrastructural setbacks.”

    Owoseni also mentioned other results of terrorism to include “violence, mindless bloodletting, death, wanton destruction, overall instilling fear in the populace and creating security crises in host communities.”

    He counselled the pupils to embrace education, fear of God, parental guidance and moral values to become productive adults.

    Meanwhile, co-founder of GAF, Mrs Nneka Isaac Moses said the programme was meant to build innovative and creative spirit in the children from their young age.

    She advised parents to guide but not choose careers for their children rather harness and enhance their God-given dreams.

  • Security: Ambode receives #10m donation from Lebanese community

    Security: Ambode receives #10m donation from Lebanese community

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday received a donation of N10 million from the Lebanese Nigerian Initiative (LNI) for the State Security Trust Fund, charging the body to continue to do more for the State.

    The Governor, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he received the Chairman and the directors of the LNI through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello thanked the group for the initiative, adding that a lot could still be done for the State in that regard.

    “Particularly in the field of security, there is still a lot you can still do for us. Without the efforts of people like you and others in the past, Lagos would not have been where it is today in terms of maintenance of peace and security”, he said.

    The Governor added that with the business pedigree of each of the members of the LNI, the present administration is deeply appreciative of their contribution which, according to him, is a good initiative.

    He said the issue of security cannot be left alone for government to handle and that this was one of the reasons that informed the clarion call to members of the organized private sector to join the State Government in ensuring that the people can sleep with their two eyes closed.

    Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Lebanese Nigerian Initiative (LNI), Mr. Faysal El-Khalil said the members of the Lebanese community have been in Nigeria for over a century doing legitimate business.

    He said the members are, through the latest gesture, demonstrating a reassurance of their commitment to the determination of the present administration to keep criminals at bay permanently.

    Mr El-Khalil said the donation was about how the members of the Lebanese community can give back to the Nigerian and Lagos community which they have been operating for long.

    He said in addition to the security initiative, the LNI has also embarked upon a project towards investing in education by creating an endowment fund in the American University in Beirut where specified number of Nigerians would be beneficiaries.

    Meanwhile, the State Government, through the LSSTF, on Thursday donated 100 hundred level four bullet proof vests and ballistic helmets to the State Command of Nigerian Police.

    Speaking during the donation which was received by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Executive Secretary of LSSTF, Dr. Abdulrazak Balogun said the massive support to security agencies in the State was part of the strategy of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration at ensuring a safe, secure and prosperous State.

    While stating that businesses and investments can only thrive in a secured and conducive atmosphere, Balogun said there was a need for the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to continue to support government, especially by complementing the sincere and genuine efforts of the present administration in the State at securing lives and property.

    He said: “We just continue to appeal to the private sector to continue to support us. They have been doing so well. As you know, the Trust Fund is based on donor funding and so all we have been able to achieve is from the private sector and we just appeal to them that nothing is too small.

    “As Lagos continues to grow and improve, security challenges continue to increase and we need to forestall this problem in future and we can only do that with the continuous support of the private sector.”

  • Gov. Ambode compensates two police officers

    Gov. Ambode compensates two police officers

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday compensated two police officers with commendation letters and N250, 000 cash each, for the recovery of N5 million which fell-off a bullion van around Alausa, Ikeja.

    A statement by Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Lagos State Taskforce Public Affairs Officer, said the two policemen were attached to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit ( Taskforce ).

    ”These two police officers, Insp. Abiona Hezekiah and Sgt. Ogunbiyi Agbabu recently recovered N5 million that fell-off a bullion van around Alausa, Ikeja.

    ”The money was discovered, after due investigation, to belong to Skye Bank Plc.”.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Fatai Owoseni, made the presentation of the commendation letters and cash to the duo.

    The statement said that the CP commended the duo for their high sense of patriotism, honesty and integrity in the line of duty.

    “This heroic act and professional conduct, is in line with the ‘Change Mantra’ of the present administration which will ensure a renewed confidence in the Nigerian Police Force by the populace.

    ”I want to appreciate these officers for their honesty and commitment while discharging their duties at the Lagos State Taskforce,” it quoted the governor as saying.

    The statement said that the officers thanked the governor and promised to remain steadfast in the discharge of their duties at the Lagos State Taskforce.