The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oshodi

  • Environmental degradation: LASG to restore Oshodi

    After enjoying commendable sanity, especially in the early years of the last administration in the state, Oshodi, an area noted for its beehive of commercial activities, is fast losing the beauty and sanity it once enjoyed. Indeed, while the former governor Babatunde Fashola administration got thumbs up for the unbelievable transformation it brought to the Oshodi metropolis, this transformation began to systematically fall apart, and gradually returning the area to the notoriety it was noted for, especially in the twilight of the administration.

    For instance, from the early hours of the evenings, from 6:00pm up to 11:30pm, journeying through Oshodi is a nightmare, as mini buses take over the entire road, parking and loading passengers indiscriminately. The presence of policemen and other law enforcement agents has not helped matters, as they also turn a blind eye to the lawlessness perpetuated by the bus drivers, and extorting money from them. This, it is believed, has emboldened the commercial bus drivers on this route.

    Now, the Lagos State Government has expressed deep concern over the attitude of traders and mini buses operators on environmental degradation of Oshodi area occasioned by illegal street trading, hawking and indiscriminate parking habit on the road thereby creating heavy traffic bottleneck for other road users. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr Oluwatoyin Onisarotu, during an assessment tour of the area, noted that the area had been littered with refuse dumps, human wastes, illegal shanties and stalls, illegal motor parks, street trading and noise pollution among others.

    Onisarotu, who emphasised that the state government remains unwavering in its commitment to a clean, hygiene and flood free environment urged traders and mini-buses operators in the area to desist from their indiscriminate loading and off-loading of passengers and goods on the main road, adding that open urination and defecation, indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and unapproved sites, illegal street trading/hawking, indiscriminate displaying of goods/wares on drainage alignment, road set-backs, trading along the railway line, medians are forbidden by the State Environmental Sanitation Law.

    He stressed that the peace, security and health of the people living and doing legal business in this environment is being compromised daily through the indiscipline being perpetuated in the area daily.

  • Group laments insecurity in Oshodi

    A group of residents and business owners in Oshodi and its environs has urged security agencies to do more in providing  security, especially by curtailing hoodlums who have turned that high density area of Lagos to a theatre of violence.

    The group, Oshodi Peace Movement (OPM), which consists of traders and residents helping security agencies in promoting peace and orderliness in the area, urged the Commissioner of Police and authorities of other relevant agencies to keep vigil as crimes perpetrated in Eyin-Irin area of Oshodi, which falls under the Onigbongbo Local Government Area, has recently been in the increase.

    “We are calling the attention of the security agencies to the various crimes by a group that call itself Ko si Oga (No leader) and has continued to wreak havoc in our neighbourhood.

    “We have identified some of them, although we understand that the security agencies have also been on the trail of their cohorts,” the group spokesman, Mr. Waheed Olaosebikan, said in a statement made available to newsmen.

    Continuing, the statement said: “Although some of the hoodlums have been arrested, the Oshodi Peace Movement established five years ago, said the crimes have not abated because the leaders of the group are yet to be arrested.

    “Various security agencies have been raiding this area but much has not been done to arrest the main culprits whom we have identified by their names and aliases which include: (Spider, One Naira, Gbenga Fowosere, Eba, Kango, Inspector, Baba Oba and Emi Esu). Until these people are arrested, we cannot have rest of mind here in our neighbourhood.”

  • One feared dead as hoodlums clash in Oshodi

    One feared dead as hoodlums clash in Oshodi

    One person was reported dead after two neighbourhood gangs clashed in Mafoluku area of Oshodi, Lagos on Wednesday night.

    The Nation learnt that the two factions were fighting over supremacy in the environment.

    The fight, which started at Ayo Motor Park, spread to Olaiya Street, Mafoluku where the hoodlums wielded guns and shot at themselves. Residents and passersby ran for safety. Shops were looted.

    An eyewitness who owns a restaurant said: “This has been on for three days now, and we have been off business since Monday.

    “Our sales are mostly at night; this is a place where people come to relax, drink and work. We have been having sleepless nights and also most of our properties have been destroyed; like cars and shops. The police came in late after a while, less movement has been on the road since yesterday and we don’t know how long this would continue.”

    Another witness, a trader said: “When this started around 6pm, I locked myself in my shop with some of my costumers and other passers-by. We watched them shooting one another; they have been on this fight for years now but these last three days have been worse. They usually have physical fight but this time around, it’s quite different. Some of my goods and properties were destroyed.”

    According to him, one man died during a fracas between two factions of tout at Keke Marwa’s park along Oshodi-Airport road, Ajao Estate.

  • Our battle against criminals, by Lagos anti-robbery chief

    Our battle against criminals, by Lagos anti-robbery chief

    [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Tunji Disu, has said armed robbers will be kicked out of Lagos State.

    ACP Disu said his men arrested over 181 suspects last month.

    He told The Nation at the weekend that the RRS did a crime mapping of the state and is better placed to curb armed robbery.

    He said: “When I was posted to head the RRS, we did crime mapping in line with the directives of the CP and located areas that are prone to crimes.

    “We identified Oshodi, Ikorodu, Ijora among others as areas where traffic robbers, bag snatchers as well as those who steal from children and in houses were rampant. So we decided to start with those areas with greater number.

    ”We raided under the bridges and other hideouts of the miscreants and in most cases, the suspects put up resistance.

    “We discovered that they post spies, including juveniles on ground who informed them of police arrival. At times we saw their spies playing cards.

    “We were able to arrest the 181 because of the commitment of my men. They have shown great understanding and have remained committed in our drive to ensure that Lagos is safe for residents and business.

    “Lagosians should not be afraid. They should go to sleep with their eyes close because the police would clamp down on criminals.

    ”But as you know, the police cannot do much without information that is why we are appealing to the general public to furnish us with useful information that will assist us serve them better.”

    Disu added that the suspects have been handed over to the relevant offices for further action.

    On what the RRS was doing in respect of incessant cult clashes in some areas of the state, Disu said the CP had issued a directive to all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders to fish out criminal elements obstructing public peace, adding that no stone would be left unturned in maintaining peace and security across the state.

     

  • Police arrest 93 hoodlums in Lagos

    Police arrest 93 hoodlums in Lagos

    The Police in Lagos have arrested 93 suspected hoodlums at Oshodi on Wednesday as it continued with its raid of criminal hideouts in the metropolis.

    A statement by the state command of the Nigeria Police Force said on Thursday said the suspects were arrested by its Rapid Respond Squad (RRS).

    The statement quoted the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, as saying that they were arrested at about 1 a.m.

    “A special team of crack police detectives and a team of RRS Decoy operatives raided Oshodi and the surroundings under the bridge.

    “Information at our disposal revealed that some miscreants are in the habit of robbing, snatching handsets and valuables from innocent citizens at night and day time.

    “In the process, 93 suspects were apprehended. The miscreants consist of 23 juveniles all of them males, 67 adults who had their abode under the bridge and 3 underage girls.

    “The miscreants were found playing cards, smoking herbs while some were sleeping. They were all arrested and transferred to RRS office for interrogation,’’ it said.

    The statement said that on arrival at the Taskforce office, Alausa, they were rigorously screened and 20 were able to substantiate their mission at the point of arrest and means of livelihood and were released.

    “Thirty-nine who could neither convince the police nor give satisfactory account of themselves were handed over to the Taskforce for necessary action.

    “In the spirit of fundamental human rights, the ministries of women affairs and education were invited to take custody of the 23 juveniles.

    “Others have been transferred to the Lagos State Police Command for further investigation,’’ it said.

  • Philanthropist to transform Oshodi youths

    A philanthropist and safety management trainer, Mr Oluwole Ben Eweoya, has expressed optimism over the prospect of improving the lives of young people in Oshodi Local Government area of Lagos State.

    This, he said, is achievable through The Forwarders, a non-governmental foundation committed to developing the community by stirring the interest of youths in education and personal development.

    Eweoya, who holds an LLB (Law) and MBA (International Business) from the University of Westminster, England, told reporters that he was inspired to come up with the initiative as a result of his dissatisfaction with the turn of events in the community.

    “I am concerned because I was born and bred in Oshodi. I attended Mafoluku Grammar School and there is nowhere people will see me as an illiterate. I am not blowing my own trumpet, but mention the same Oshodi anywhere today, people will run away because they see it as a haven of touts. Those are the kinds of impressions people have about Oshodi that we want to change.”

    Disclosing the strategy for realising the vision, the grassroots politician fondly called Imole by his admirers, is starting from the grassroots by reaching out to youths in public primary and secondary schools with various activities.

    Already, the group has provided laboratory equipment to schools and organised seminars on safety and the environment, not leaving out inter-house sporting activities and book reading to encourage reading culture among primary schools’ pupils.

    Schools which have benefited from these activities are: Mafoluku Grammar School; Ikeja Grammar School and St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Mafoluku.

    Lamenting that some children in the community now see warlords as heroes, Eweoya said he embarked on the book reading project to broaden the minds of the pupils.

    “I personally do one hour every week in some of the schools at the moment. I believe in reading because it helped me while I was growing up. Oftentimes when I go to their schools and discuss their future ambitions with them, I get shocked. This is a function of lack of role models in the community,” he said.

  • Foundation launches ‘Light-Up Oshodi Project’

    The Bode Edun Foundation has launched a Light-Up Oshodi project over the weekend.

    The foundation with support from its sponsors and partners, installed 100 street lights in the inner streets of the seven wards of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos.

    The founder, Mr Bode Edun, said the foundation took it upon itself to help light-up every nook and cranny of Oshodi to help citizens at night.

    “The importance of street lighting cannot be overemphasised,”  he said.

    “It is on record that the provision of street lights by the Lagos State Government has helped to curb the tide of armed and small robberies in Lagos. We are simply contributing our own quota as a non-profit organisation to the development of council,” Edun added.

    The residents and elders of Simbi Street, Ijaye, Edun , Brown and other adjoining streets where the installation has been completed expressed joy over the project.

    The Chief Imam of Ijaye Mosque, Alhaji Wasiu Atanda, said “as a son of the soil, our son (Bode) recognises our need in the area and always rises up to the occasion to help solve our problems. So, I am not surprised that his foundation is coming up with this project”.

    The foundation promised to do more to alleviate the suffering of the residents.

  • Police, thugs clash in Oshodi

    Police, thugs clash in Oshodi

    There was pandemonium in Oshodi, Lagos, yesterday during a clash between the Police and thugs.

    According to eyewitnesses, the police came from Alausa, Ikeja to arrest commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders.

    An Okada rider said the police arrived around noon.

    “They usually come around 10am but today (yesterday), the police came around 12pm and started harassing us. Some of our people were arrested with their bikes,” the motorcyclist said.

    According to him, anyone caught pays nothing less than N10, 000 to retrieve his bike.

    After the police left around 3pm, he said, some boys from Oju Irin came to attack some policemen around Oshodi in annoyance.

    “Elections are close by; we wonder why the officers cannot allow us to make money to spend on our family members because everybody will be indoors. They should at least allow us to make some money this week and stop harassing us. For how long do we continue with this harassment, that was the reason the guys came out to show their annoyance,” he said.

    According to another Okada rider, the police returned in large number around 6pm to deal with the thugs.

    “Some of the guys at Oju Irin were arrested; they shot sporadically into the air and people started running for their lives. My brother, me too, I run ooo,” he said.

    When contacted, the command’s spokesperson, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), promised to find out and get back.

    Also yesterday, hoodlums suspected to have come for a rally organised by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) attacked commuters at Stadium Bus stop in Surulere, Lagos, robbing them of money, handsets and other valuables.

    According to an eyewitness, the hooligans operated for over 30 minutes unhindered.

    One George Essien posted on his Instagram how he was robbed and his car damaged.

    “Just got robbed in traffic near National Stadium by some hoodlums on the PDP rally train. Over 30 other cars also vandalised and robbed of phones, money, items. No police in sight in the 15mins operation *ElectionMadness,” Essien wrote.

  • Oshodi mayhem

    Oshodi mayhem

    •There should be zero tolerance to fracas in this all-important Lagos commercial hub

    The last gang warfare at Oshodi, mainland Lagos, between elements of the local National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), is symptomatic of the sheer unpredictability of Nigerian national life.  Within a split second, motorists and innocent passersby found themselves trapped in a frightening gang war — with not a few of these ending up as victims of opportunistic robberies and muggings.

    That is certainly not good enough. Still, the Lagos State Police Command must be commended for bringing down the disturbance and arresting the alleged leading culprits.

    Briefing the media after an emergency state security council meeting at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Kayode Aderanti, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), gave an  update on the disturbance.

    “The Oshodi fracas is not political,” he told the press. “All the principal characters are in custody. Today, we have arraigned 18 of them and they are in jail.  And tomorrow,” he pledged, “I am going to arraign about 17 of them. I am not talking about foot soldiers. I am talking about the leaders of these people.”

    That was great news! It is no use arresting pawns, when the real players, who can cause mischief at the shortest of notices, walk free. Still on rounding up alleged ring leaders, CP Aderanti gave M.C. Oluomo, the Oshodi branch NURTW chairman, a final ultimatum to give himself up or be declared wanted. If Mr. Oluomo is indeed a suspect, the least he could do is give himself up for due investigation.

    Still, we hope the CP has carried out a thorough investigation before declaring that the fracas was not political. We have no cause to disbelieve him. Yet, we are not unaware that this is electioneering time; and that politicians have the penchant to use factions of road transport workers as foot soldiers, in thuggery wars.

    The CP also announced the ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks and drugs within 100 metres of the precincts of the motor parks. He warned that should anyone in the park community breach the ban, the police would have no choice but to take over the motor park and enforce a total ban on union activities.

    In these democratic times, it is heart-warming the police bans did not come from some arbitrary police code. Rather, it is the full enforcement of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012, a law which, at its enactment, drew great public enlightenments, concerning its provisions.

    Which is why it is amazing that barely two years into the new law, everyone appears to have gone snoring on its enforcement. It is bitter-sweet that the Oshodi fracas has stung the police to enforce that law. But it is also scandalous they had to wait for a crisis that claimed no less than three lives, a couple of burnt and vandalised vehicles and robberies on innocent citizens, doing their legitimate businesses.

    This is not good enough. Each day, there is enough police presence in Oshodi — which is good. What is not good is that, from how the fracas happened and the police reaction to curb future disturbances, it is clear that the police have not been at their optimum. If they had been, they would have fully enforced the new law, and perhaps had prevented the mayhem.

    So, while congratulating the police for rallying to curb the disturbance, they should in future try prevention, the worst of which is better than the best of cure. Oshodi is too important a commercial hub to be left to the whims and caprices of motor park thugs or to the sloppiness of the police in  enforcing extant laws.

  • Today at Oshodi market

    Tomatoes and pepper are on sale at the popular Oshodi market this week. However, prices of these staple food items remain the same. Despite that more restaurants, businesses are open within the market, sellers say they rather sell at the usual price of N100 per medium size tray.

    Second on the list is rice, a must have in every home. Its price range is between N7,500 and N10,000 per bag. The most sorted brand is the special rice. Honeywell Semolina sells compared toWheat, people are buying more white garri than Yam flour.

    In the oil section, Palm oil patronage tops that of Vegetable oil. Indomie noodles is leading in its category. Oloyin (honey beans)  leads Olotu and drum, cow meat sellers as well as Frozen fish sellers welcome more visitors compare to their goat meat and frozen chicken counterpart.

    The market records more people buying tubers of yam and bunches of plantain, particularly the unripe plantain.