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Tag: Ogun

  • Police retrieve Ogun monarch’s crown, staff of office from thieves

    Police retrieve Ogun monarch’s crown, staff of office from thieves

    Ogun State Police Command says it has retrieved a royal crown and staff of office belonging to the Olu of Ogunmakin, Oba Olugbenga James Sodiya, who joined his ancestors barely two months ago.

    The Command identified three suspects  –  one Amusa Kazeem, Oke Oladipupo, and Johnson Oluwole as the persons who conspired to storm the monarch’s palace to steal the royal items.

     SP Omolola Odutola, Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Police Command in a release yesterday stated that the suspects collected a key from someone who is in the custody of the king’s property, used it to gain entrance to the facility, and stole the Crown and Staff of Office.

     SP Odutola stated, “On the 12th of October 2023, an intelligence was received from the Palace of his Royal Majesty late Ogunmakin that one Amusa Kazeem “m”  Oke Oladipupo and Johnson Oluwole ‘m’ conspired and stole the Royal Crown and Staff of Office two months after the demise of King  Ogunmakin

    Read Also: Rival cult gang hacks three to death in Ogun, chops off their left hands.

     “The suspects were alleged to have entered into the house at about 2000hrs where the properties of the late king were kept. The duo took the key where it was kept in the custody of the person assigned to keep the properties and removed the Royal Crown and the Staff of the Office of the late King, an act described as an abomination.

     “Immediately the information was received the police swung into action and recovered the Royal Crown, from the house of one Kazeem Amusan “m”. The Staff of Office has not been recovered, but intensive action is ongoing to recover same. The suspects have been arrested and undergoing interrogation.

    “The Commissioner of Police is abreast of the report and has condemned the act, he is beaconing at well-spirited persons to volunteer information that will lead to the recovery of the Staff of Office.”

  • Agenda for Ogun’s new cabinet

    Agenda for Ogun’s new cabinet

    • By Kunle Somorin

    On August 3, 2023, the Ogun House of Assembly confirmed the nomination of eight commissioner-nominees who were earlier screened based on the adoption of the report of the Committee of the Whole House chaired by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo.

    On September 12, the House further confirmed the nomination of nine more commissioner-nominees as part of the individuals who will constitute the second-term team in Governor Dapo Abiodun’s cabinet. Those confirmed in the second installment included a former two-term member of the Assembly and a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo; Mr. Sofela Adebola Emmanuel; Hon. Ilori-Oduntan Olufemi; Engr. Oluwagbenga Dairo; Hon. Bolu Owootomo; Mr. Oladimeji Oresanya; Hon. Balogun Ademola; Engr. Taiwo Oludotun and Mr. Fagbayi Sesan.

    On October 9, the House screened three additional commissioner-nominees sent to it by Governor Abiodun in what seemed like the final tranche of nominations. The three commissioner-nominees screened this time were Mr. Olatunji Odunlami, former Commissioner in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; Mr Wasiu Isiaka, former Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Ogun Internally Generated Revenue, and Mrs Funmi Efuwape, immediate-past Commissioner in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    It brings to 20 (one was dropped at the screening) the number of commissioner-nominees screened and confirmed by the state legislature as submitted by Prince Abiodun.

    Also, one of the earliest observations both insiders and bystanders would notice in the governor’s incoming cabinet is the retaining of the core base of those who assisted him in bringing his vision to life during his first term as governor. The idiom, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” comes to mind in the way His Excellency has gone about his choice team.

    It also means that, characteristically, the governor was not ready to play politics with the consolidation of the gains of the previous four years in the state.

    With post-election litigations over and the governor’s re-election duly affirmed by the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal on September 30, and the formal inauguration on Friday, 13th October, high expectations of the people of the state, majorly because of the standard set by Gov Abiodun in his first term, demand that the commissioners-designate hit the ground running immediately after their swearing-in.

    Already, it is to their advantage that they have keyed into the governor’s vision, and they should make that advantage count by rolling their sleeves and getting the job done. Many have attested to the fact that Gov Abiodun has increased the appetite of the Ogun people towards good governance. Thus, the tremendous success of his first term has become the yardstick for measuring growth and development in the state.

    The governor himself has said, “We will continue with the same vision of providing focused and purposeful governance. We will push our frontiers as the industrial, educational, and religious capital of Nigeria. We are fast becoming the food basket in the southwest, so we have a lot to be thankful for. Please let us keep our eyes on the ball.” This is a huge commitment to which the people will not only hold him but also scrutinise the collective effort of his team’s ability to deliver.

    Also, while hosting members of the Ogun State Community Development Council and the State Cooperatives Federated Limited who were on a felicitation visit to him on his victory at the polls, the governor reiterated his administration’s position to continue to ensure that it fulfills all its campaign promises to the people, just as it did in his first term.

    Crucially, the commissioners-designate should be up to speed with the developmental policies of the administration to consolidate the ISEYA Mantra, because even before they are assigned portfolios, the governor has been recording some giant strides through the use of his Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework that yielded so much result in the previous term and is expected to further boost the confidence of stakeholders in the ability of government to deliver.

    Since his reelection, Prince Abiodun has been meeting with both local and international private sector actors and has even commissioned economic projects such as the 150 million standard cubic feet Ibefun Natural Gas City Gate. He had a strategic economic meeting with the biggest conglomerate owned by the Egyptian Government, National Service Project Organization, with the North African organisation expressing its readiness to invest in the agricultural sector of the state.

    There are also huge projects from the first term that the cabinet must assist the governor to deliver. One such is the Tongeji Island Project, which would host a $3 billion crude oil refinery in a PPP arrangement with some international oil conglomerates. The project has the potential to deliver a 400,000-liters-per-day refinery to boost the energy supply and provide over 10,000 direct jobs while boosting the state’s internally generated revenue.

    Also, there is the Kajola Dry Port, cited at the Kajola Free Trade Zone, aimed at making cargo shipping to the state seamless and creating job opportunities for the people of the state.

    These projects and many others are going to be Prince Abiodun’s legacy projects and strategic financial reforms, as well as a renewed commitment to quality service delivery are required to ensure the kind of seamless financial policy implementation needed to bring them into fruition for the overall socio-economic development of Ogun State.

    It is known that the state’s 2023 Budget relies heavily on and is being financed significantly by the internally generated revenue from the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Lands & Survey, other ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as other funding sources which include statutory allocation, excess crude, value added tax and capital receipts.

    To be able to complete these very important projects, therefore, the state will have to further expand its revenue base by exploring new opportunities in the informal sector through accurate data gathering and necessary enforcement while blocking envisaged leakages.

    It is in line with this huge task ahead that Gov Abiodun said the 2023 budget is a holistic constitution of the people’s needs and judicious application of the limited resources to areas that bear on the welfare of the citizenry. “This budget is reflective of what the people of Ogun State want. I can assure you that on our part, we will ensure the implementation of the budget. Through this budget, our people will enjoy the full dividends of democracy,” he said.

    For emphasis, no fewer than 203 inputs (representing 95 per cent of demands) made at the citizens’ town hall meetings held across the four divisions of the state were incorporated into the budget proposal for 2023. There are other reasons why the governor said that delivering on the provisions of the 2023 budget is crucial to the growth and development of the state. Therein, the state government has given utmost priority to capital project investments in education, health, housing, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors for the growth and development of the state and the well-being of its inhabitants.

    In 2022, the government delivered on its promise of embarking on the construction of Agro-Cargo International Airport at Ilishan-Remo in which the first phase was commissioned in the first quarter of 2023, while the other phases had reached advanced stages of completion. Other major projects are also receiving adequate attention across all sectors in order to ensure accelerated growth and even development across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

    It is obvious that embarking on the delivery of these promises and the completion of such significant major projects require strategic partnerships and collaboration. Ogun, therefore, needs an enabling environment for industrial growth, manpower development, and creativity to thrive. That is why the administration of Prince Abiodun introduced measures to attract foreign and local investments.

    Prince Abiodun, therefore, needs the support of his new cabinet members to ensure that policies and programmes in their various portfolios are geared towards promoting efficiency and effectiveness in fund allocation and utilization. They should constantly remind themselves that the ultimate goal is “Building our future together”.

    • SOMORIN, former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, writes from Abeokuta
  • Rival cult gang hacks three to death in Ogun

    Rival cult gang hacks three to death in Ogun

    Suspected members of a rival cult gang have butchered three persons in Ijoko community in Ota area of Ogun State to death and left their remains in an abandoned building. 

    The attack, it was learnt, occurred on Saturday in what some of the residents reckoned as aftermath of a renewed rival cult gang violence. 

    The attackers chopped off the left hands of the slain persons while two of the dead were identified as suspected members of an Eiye Confraternity. 

    Ogun Police spokesperson SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed this in a statement on Saturday, explained that a

    community leader in Abibatun Toronbi Community in Ijoko, Ogun State reported the incident to Ijoko Police Post. 

    Odutola added that the community leader noted that on Saturday, three unidentified young men were found hacked to death in an abandoned building or criminal hideout within their community.

    “The policemen who arrived the scene observed that the deceased left hands were cut off. Two were identified as Alias Memory and one Rilwan a suspected cultist of the Eiye Confraternity group who have been on the police look out for several crimes. Corpses were evacuated and deposited at the morgue for further investigation, while the Area is under close monitoring. 

    Read Also: Scouts ‘resolve to stop cultism, drug abuse in youths’

    “The police have initiated a thorough investigation into the killings with the assistance from local informants. This led to the identification of the number one Eiye Confraternity as members of a rival cult group, the Eiye confraternity.

    “Efforts are ongoing to gather more information about the activities of these cult groups and their connections to other criminal acts in the area. The police are committed to bringing all perpetrators involved in cultism and related crimes to justice, ensuring the safety and security of the community.

    “The community is encouraged to continue providing valuable information to the police to aid in further investigations and the apprehension of other individuals involved in criminal activities in the area. Collaborative efforts between the police and the community are essential in combating cultism and ensuring a peaceful and secure environment for all residents,” she stated. 

  • Child trafficking: Reps member raises alarm over imminent attack on Ogun community

    Child trafficking: Reps member raises alarm over imminent attack on Ogun community

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Egbado North/Imeko Afon federal constituency of Ogun state, Isiaka Adegboyega has raised an alarm of an imminent attack on the Igbokofi community in Yewa North local government area of Ogun state by suspected arms and child traffickers.

    Moving a motion of urgent national importance, Adegboyega said the possible attack has created serious tension, anxiety, and fear within and around the community by residents, adding that this could lead to loss of lives and properties.

    He expressed concern that the community has been left unprotected by Nigerian security personnel, while the Nigeria Police personnel in the area are without arms and often run away in the eyes of danger.

    The lawmaker said members of the Rapid Response of the Nigeria Immigration Service that has protected the community over the years were withdrawn in July 2023, leaving them vulnerable to attack

    He said: “Since then, there has been a greater threat to lives and properties to the residents of Igbokofi and residents believe that arms and child trafficking through the area have evidently increased and there is reliable information that attacks that threaten the international border demarcation even further may be in the offing.”

    “Igbokofi is one of the communities in Yewa North local government area of Ogun state that shares the international border with the Republic of Benin.

    Read Also: Ogun border communities urge Fed Govt to lift embargo on filling stations

    “Typical of most border communities in Ogun state, the community faces not only extremely poor infrastructural facilities but great security challenges brought about by encroachment into the Nigerian territory by Beninoire authorities and activities of child traffickers, kidnappers, suspected arms running and such other transborder crimes. These pose great danger to the lives and property of Nigerians living in and around this community.

    “There has been a long-standing border dispute between Nigeria and the Benin Republic in the Igbokofi community and as we speak a Benin Republic Police post located on the Nigerian land is still generating controversy

    “Since June 2022, the community has been given Security protection by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

    “The few men in the Nigerian Police Post in the community are completely unarmed (even with batons) and have had to run away many times on sensing danger. There are no other security or paramilitary agents within the vicinity.”

    Following the motion, the House asked the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, and other sister agencies to immediately restore fully all armed security personnel in the community.

    They also asked the Inspector General of Police or any other designated Senior Police Officer to visit the community with a view to carrying out an on-the-spot assessment of the security threat to effect necessary changes. 

  • Ogun border communities urge Fed Govt to lift embargo on filling stations

    Ogun border communities urge Fed Govt to lift embargo on filling stations

    Elders of Ogun State border communities under the aegis of Yewa People Development Council (YPDC) have appealed to the Federal Government to consider the lifting of the embargo on the supply of petroleum products to filling stations in Nigeria’s land border communities.

    Speaking at a news briefing held at the Yewa Council Hall, Ilaro, Ogun State, the YPDC Board of Trustee Chairman and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahman Bello, said eminent sons and daughters of the area were already holding talks with the Federal Government as part of steps aimed at addressing the economic challenges of the region.

    He urged both the federal and state governments to upgrade and invest more in infrastructure needs of the border communities in order to scale up standard of living in the zone.

    Prof. Bello also briefed reporters on the activities lined up towards the 2023 edition of Yewa Cultural Festival, which began last weekend in Ilaro.

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    Flanked by the Oloke Odan of Oke Odan, Oba O.O  Fagbenro, who represented the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; the Chairman, Carnival and Tourism Development Board, Otunba Lekan Asuni; Yewa Cultural Ambassador, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan aka Ogogo; traditional rulers among others, the chairman said the festival would showcase cultural diversities of Yewaland and its people.

    He said YPDC is a creation of the Yewa Traditional Council aimed at coordinating the efforts of all pan-Yewa development organisations towards effective development and representation of Yewaland.

    He said: “The 2023 Yewa Festival is expected to showcase all the cultural diversities of Yewaland including its people, to the world, stressing that the momentum to be created by the 2023 festival is expected to lay the foundation of a world-acclaimed festival which will go into the tourism schedule of Nigeria and the world in general.

    “There are many challenges we are facing in this area in Yewaland as border communities and this is exactly what we as a council will be taking up. Because of our location which is not our choice but by divine creation. We have been targeted in some cases not because of our faults, but because of where we are. We are, however, not going to take that lying low, we are going to take it as a challenge and ensure that it doesn’t hinder us in the course of our developments”.

    “We are also working on the issue of the 20-kilometre restrictions of fuel supplies to the border. We are already following up to ensure that it’s fully removed.

    “It’s not only the restriction of fuel to the border communities that is troubling us, we are aware that we’re also having problems with our youths who are being used as couriers, in most cases by the smugglers and by that, they’re abandoning their schools, seeing such as a business. These are some of the people who could have grown up to become something greater in the future. But

    “So, we know our challenges and we know where they are. We have been facing them, but we are going to engage the federal, state and Local Governments to ensure that we get the right things in our areas infrastructurally, as well as developmentally”.

    He highlighted medical outreaches across the five local government areas in Ogun West Senatorial District, as part of activities for the week-long programme.

    Besides the award of honour to top federal and State Executives and Public Servants of Yewa extraction held on Saturday at Yewa Frontiers Hotel, Ilaro, another set of 130 Yewa indigenes would be honoured at the second reception and award events on Friday.

    An Economic Summit with the theme “Re-Invigorating Yewa Agenda-From Vision to Reality” will be addressed by Professor Tope Popoola who will be speaking on “Re-Appraising Educational Strategies as Veritable Tool for Community Development” and “Harnessing and Maximizing Youth Potentials for Empowerment and Transformation of Yewaland” to be delivered by Special Adviser and Commissioner Designate, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan.

    Other programmes for the Festival were Youth Summit; Yewa Unity Cup Competition; Jumat and Church thanksgiving services and the grand finale at Asade Agunloye Pavilion on Saturday with the paying of homage by different groups, Community Development Associations to Oba Olugbenle and other royal fathers from across the length and breadth of Yewaland and Star Awards and Recognitions.

    The Festival Mascot was unveiled during the news conference by Oba Fagbenro.

  • Ogun tribunal judgment and the shape of politics to come

    Ogun tribunal judgment and the shape of politics to come

    • By Lekan Adeniran

    he verdict of the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which recently ruled in favour of Prince Dapo Abiodun as duly elected governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) is bound to change the political narratives and permutations in the Gateway State.

    It would be recalled that the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Hamidu Kunaza, in the verdict that lasted more than 11 hours unanimously dismissed all the prayers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

    On the one hand, the verdict solidified the March 18, election victory of Prince Abiodun and upheld his position as the legitimate governor of Ogun State by reaffirming his mandate as the people’s choice and further strengthening his acceptability as the number one citizen in the state. It also gives the governor and his administration a renewed sense of legitimacy and credibility.

    It is obvious that the governor’s victory was a rude shock to the opposition, who was under the illusion that the cash rolling around would translate to victory for their candidate. This was much more reflected in the fanfare and reveries in their camp on the eve of the ruling. But, as the tribunal’s verdict was being unveiled, the truth hit very hard; the opposition, who had thronged the premises of the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in large number in a carnival-like atmosphere, could not stand the outcome and started the exodus of exiting the venue one after the other.

    Surely, the victory is a reflection of the mood of the state. It is also the confirmation of the dominance of progressive politics in the state since 1999, which has seen Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and now Prince Abiodun as the state’s helmsman.

    To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, a former US President after the failed attempt to invade Cuba in 1961; failure is an orphan, while victory has many fathers. Apparently sensing the new beginning in the politics of the Gateway State, and prior to the ruling by the tribunal, thousands of loyalists of former governor, Amosun, led by Chief Derin Adebiyi jumped the boat to formally align with the mainstream APC in the state, led by Governor Abiodun. This move has swelled the ranks of the ruling party and further solidified it as a party to beat in the state.

    Read Also: Ogun Tribunal: PDP’s Adebutu challenges Abiodun’s victory at Appeal Court

    Prince Abiodun was ecstatic by the return of the prodigal members, even as he appreciated their loyalty to their leaders when things were not going the way they had expected.

    The governor said: “I want to congratulate your sense of loyalty to leadership, which I will say is not only commendable, it is enviable. This is a culture that we must promote and entrench. It is a culture that is fast eroding; it is a culture that we are fast losing. Loyalty is 100 per cent.

    “For some others, they move once things are not working well, but for you, you stay put. This sense of loyalty is worthy of emulation. 

    “We must appreciate the fact that there can only be one leader in a party at a time. Even when we have ambitions and desires, we must subordinate ourselves 100% to leadership and believe that it is in that subordination that will allow us to flourish and achieve our objectives, our dreams, our desires and aspirations, not by forming factions or by breaking away.

    “Because by so doing, it only weakens the fabric of that collective union that we call our party. You must appreciate that there can be only one leader of the party at a time in the state, and that leader is the governor. 

    “As the leader of the party, I appreciate the task bestowed on me and it is my duty to work towards individual and collective welfare of our members.”

    The verdict could also potentially reshape the dynamics within the opposition parties in the state to the advantage of APC. The ruling party must prepare for defections from some of the fringe parties, going by political trends in the country as witnessed in the past. 

    Recently too, the state chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has aligned with the APC by congratulating the governor on his tribunal victory while advising Adebutu to jettison the idea of going on appeal.

    Further consolidation by the ruling party may lead to internal restructuring, and reassessment of strategies by the PDP but this may lead nowhere. Its structure is collapsing 

    Governor Abiodun’s public standing and image have been bolstered as a strong and capable leader, both within the state and at the national level. The outcome could influence future electoral activities in the state, as political parties and candidates may take note of the outcome and adjust their strategies, accordingly.

    Overall, the verdict has the potential to reshape the political landscape in Ogun State by providing stability, strengthening the ruling party’s position, and influencing future political dynamics.

    • Adeniran is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ogun State.
  • Ogun Assembly screens three commissioner-nominees

    Ogun Assembly screens three commissioner-nominees

    Ogun House of Assembly yesterday screened three additional commissioner-nominees sent to it by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    Mr. Olakunle Oluomo, speaker, presided over the screening of the nominees at the assembly complex in Abeokuta.

    The commissioner-nominees are: Olatunji Odunlami, former Commissioner in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; Mr Wasiu Isiaka, former Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Ogun Internally Generated Revenue and Mrs Funmi Efuwape, ex-Commissioner in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state legislature had screened and confirmed 17 commissioner-nominees ,who are yet to be sworn-in by the governor.

    Read Also: Medical doctor bags two years in jail for stealing hospital beds in A’Ibom

    The speaker enjoined the screened nominees to remain committed to quality service and avoid anything that could impede the progress and development of the state, if confirmed.

    The lawmakers urged them to look inward and design plans and programmes that would have positive impact on the people of the state.

    They advised the nominees to redouble their efforts to ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy across the state.

    Responding, the nominees promised to consolidate on their achievements during the first term if confirmed

    They said they would continue to synergise with the legislature and other relevant stakeholders to implement  policies and programmes for the development of the state.

  • ‘We are working to make Ogun better for investments’

    ‘We are working to make Ogun better for investments’

    The outgoing President, Ota-Agbara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OTAGCCIMA), Deaconess Cynthia Saka, has said the association has been working with the state government to ensure that Ogun is a preferred investment destination.

    According to her, the association has been promoting dialogue to orchestrate measures to achieve ease of doing business, reducing compliance burden for industry, and advancing integrated infrastructure development. 

    She said several firms have shifted their manufacturing bases to different parts of the state, adding that the state’s relatively better performance and strong growth outlook would help it stand out as an investment destination. 

    According to her, there was increasing focus on expanding inclusion for women and youth to advance economic prosperity and sustainable development.

    Read Also: Nigeria Customs Service probes $40m Arik Air aircraft deal

    She continued that the chamber expanded high-quality industry-academia collaboration, and exposed young people to entrepreneurship training that would promote economic development and national competitiveness.

    Through OTAGCCIMA  youth Entrepreneur  branch, which has been revitalised, Mrs  Saka  explained that more youths benefited from different empowerment training which  fostered business skills.

    Similarly, she indicated that the women wing of OTAGCCIMA was established and inaugurated for the first time since the inception of this chamber.

    Consequently, she noted that more women businesses were enlisted as members of the chamber.

    As part of efforts to enhance the capacity of members in various areas, she said several workshops, seminars and training were held   with different agencies  such as Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN),among others, which  positively impacted on their business growth.

    To further boost the capacities of members and expose them to market opportunities, Mrs Saka said the chamber introduced exhibitions as well as incentive and support programmes for businesses.

     Attending the exhibitions, she noted, provided members the opportunities to raise their production capacity while introducing and marketing their products to many potential partners.

  • Robbers attack hotel in Ogun, shoot Police Inspector, two security guards

    Robbers attack hotel in Ogun, shoot Police Inspector, two security guards

    Some armed robbers yesterday invaded Remo Majestic Hotel in Sagamu, Ogun State, shooting and gravely wounding a Police Inspector and two security guards in the process.

    The robbers were said to have opened fire on a combined team of policemen who had been mobilised to the hotel to dislodge them.

    In the ensuing gun duel, two of the robbery suspects were fatally wounded while others escaped with bullet wounds.

    It was learnt that for nearly an hour the operations lasted, gunshots-weary residents of Sagamu were thrown into confusion and apprehension as many ran in different directions for safety.

    Fear-stricken parents also dashed to schools to pick their children and wards, fearing that rival cultists had again resumed their bloody clashes in cultism endemic Sagamu.

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    Two locally made single barrel guns, four unexpended cartridges, 13 expended cartridges, one big scissors, Ten Android Phones, one Java Phone, white Toyota Venza Car with registration number BWR 123DD Abuja were among items recovered at the scene by the police.

    Spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident, saying a Police Inspector and two security guards were shot by the suspected robbers.

    SP Odutola said the wounded Inspector and security guards were rushed to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Sagamu for medical attention.

    According to her, they were reported to be in stable conditions.

    She said that investigation had revealed that the suspected robbers had earlier mingled with lodgers before launching the attacks on the hotel and policemen.

    She said the Commissioner of Police, Alamutu Abiodun Mustapha, had been briefed and he had ordered a manhunt for the suspects that escaped with bullet wounds.

  • N241m contraband seized in Ogun

    N241m contraband seized in Ogun

    Barely two weeks after a new Area Controller, Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu was deployed to the Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), operatives of the command have intercepted contraband worth N241 million.

    The contraband including illicit drugs such as cannabis and bags of rice and tyres were displayed during a press briefing addressed by the acting Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi in Abeokuta on Friday.

    Adeniyi noted that the seizure was a testament to the renewed hope vision of President Bola Tinubu toward improved revenue collection and growth of local industries.  

    ”We gather here today to address a pressing concern – the importation of foreign-used Pneumatic Tyres, more commonly known as Tokunbo tyres. These are ring-shaped protective coverings made of rubber and filled with compressed air, typically used in foreign countries. Regrettably, they are deemed unsuitable for our highways. A significant number of these tyres have exceeded their recommended lifespan from their manufacturing date. According to safety experts, good-quality pneumatic tyres are safe for use for only four years from the date of manufacturing. Any usage beyond this duration poses a significant risk to motorists and jeopardizes their lives.

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    ” Our officers’ relentless efforts and unwavering dedication in Zone A, specifically the Ogun 1 Area Command, have borne fruit, leading to the interception of Cannabis Sativa, used Pneumatic Tyres, and vehicles laden with 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice. Allow me to provide the details of these significant seizures:

    Giving the breakdown of the seizures, Adeniyi said: ”Between September 18 and September 30, 2023, the officers of the Ogun 1 Area Command seized 1,436 used Pneumatic tyres, 53 sacks, and 569 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing a total of 1,179 kilograms. Additionally, they apprehended 3,149 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, alongside 32 vehicles used for conveyance, among other items.

    ”These seizures’ Duty Paid Value (DPV) amounts to an impressive N241,977,943.00. These seizures were executed at various locations, including Papa/Ajegunle, Ilaro Road, Imasayi/Joga Road, Ijebu Ode axis, and Odogbolu bush path along Ijebu Ode road in Ogun State.”

    He added: ”It is essential to highlight that these seizures are a testament to our renewed determination and strategic deployment of both human and material resources. Our commitment to protecting Nigerians from the audacious actions of daredevil smugglers remains unwavering.”