The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Precious Igbonwelundu

  • 49-year-old man goes missing in Lagos

    49-year-old man goes missing in Lagos

    A 49-year-old man who came to Lagos from Warri last Sunday has gone missing.

    The man identified as Hope Ejerovbo who said to have left his niece’s residence in Ajah for a walk on Monday but never returned.

    He was said to have come to Lagos to facilitate his trip to the United Kingdom to reunite with his wife and three children.
    His disappearance was said to panicked the family, especially because no one has contacted them to demand ransom.
    Ejerovbo’s phones have also not been unreachable.

    According to his niece’s husband who gave his name as Abraham, the man was last seen at about 7am last Monday near the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    “He decided to take a walk down the street to familiarize himself with the environment and never returned. He is an easy-going man, very thorough and does not have many friends.

    “I saw him when I came out of my room in the morning and he said he was going to take a walk down the street. I believed it would be a short walk because he does not really know this area.

    “In fact, it was my wife who opened the gate for him and that was the last we saw of him. At around 8:30am, we became worried about his whereabouts. We tried calling his mobile phone and discovered it was switched off and that got us extremely worried.

    “I stepped out and searched the whole neighbourhood till noon but did not find him. I then went to the police station to report him missing,” he said.

    The man, it was gathered was fluent in Urhobo and English languages, over five feet tall and dark complexioned.
    Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmus confirmed the incidence and enjoined the public to report any information that could lead to his discovery at any police station or through 08033027655 and (or) 09033213393.

  • Three die as container falls on bus in Lagos

    Three die as container falls on bus in Lagos

    Three persons have been confirmed dead and several two others injured after a container fell on a commercial bus in Lagos.

    The incident occurred Wednesday morning at Alakija bus stop on the busy Badagry expressway.

    It was gathered that a 40 feet container careying truck moving inward Badagry marked KRD526XP rammed into a commercial bus marked EPE972XH with five occupants.

    The Nation learnt that the collision prompted the container to fall on the bus, killing three persons on the spot.

    Two others who were trapped under the container were said to have sustained serious injuries and rushed to the hospital by emergency responders.

    Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency  (LASEMA) said recovery operations were still ongoing.

     

     

  • Police tortured, killed my father, says 10-year-old

    Police tortured, killed my father, says 10-year-old

    A 10-year-old boy, Jonathan Adewuyi has accused policemen attached to the Ayinla Police Division in Agbado, Ogun State of torturing his father to death.

    The incident occurred at the weekend at 4, Itoki Road, Itoki, where the boy lived with his father, Sina Adewuyi, 45, a bricklayer.

    According to the boy, his father died at about 5am on Sunday from injuries he sustained after his was brutalised by some policemen who came to extort his master, Dona Okey.

    Reliving the ordeal, the boy said after the policemen beat up his father for asking why they were in his compound around 4pm, they bundled him into their bus, took him away with them and he only returned at about 10pm.

    He said: “I am an apprentice working with the man (Okey) and learning to sell spare parts. His shop is in the same compound where we live. My master told them (police) he had no money with him for now because he used to give them money before whenever they came.

    “When my father came out from the house, he saw policemen and wanted to know what happened that police came to our compound. But they shouted on him and told him to leave the vicinity. He told them he lived in the compound, but they refused to listen and started beating him for having the guts to talk back at them.

    “He tried to runaway from them, but they chased him, caught up with him, hit him with a gun butt and asked him to enter their bus, which he refused. They bundled him into the bus and took him away.
    “He did not return till about 10pm and when he came back, he was in pains with marks of brutality on his body. He was complaining of headache and chest pain and so, we gave him painkillers but he vomited them.

    “My mother said we will take him to the hospital in the morning since it was already late, but around 5am on Sunday, he died.”

    Continuing, the boy said they went to the Sango Ota Area Command same Sunday morning to complain, but they were asked to go back to the division and file complaint, which they did.

    “Policemen came to our house, took photographs of my late father before he was taken to the mortuary. We were asked to return to the station on Monday, which I did with some of my father’s relatives.

    “At the station, they brought out so many policemen and asked me to point the people who came to my place. I was able to identify two of them who were among those that beat my father and took him away,” he said.

    Calling on the state governor Ibikunle Amosun, as well as the police high command to ensure justice for her late husband, the boy’s mother, Mrs. Tunrayo Adewuyi, 35, said the policemen have murdered the family’s breadwinner.

    “He is the bread winner of the family. I am only a petty food stuff trader. I have six children. Four boys and two girls. Who will help me? I don’t have anybody. The government should come to my aid,” she sobbed.

    The Area Commander of Sango Ota, Adegoke Fayoade, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) said the matter was being investigated.

    He confirmed that two policemen were identified and have been transferred to the State police command in Abeokuta for further action.

  • Illegal fishing: West Africa loses $10billion, $23.5billion yearly – Expert

    • As navy seeks new ways to tackle maritime crimes

    Between $10billion and $23.5 billion are lost globally as a result of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing every year.

    This figure, according to the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), represents 37 percent of the West African region’s catch.

    A Deputy Director of FDF, Babatunde Popoola quoted these figures at a seminar organised by the Naval Training Command  (NAVTRAC) on the arrest and prosecution of maritime crimes held on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Lamenting that the issue of IUU was a global challenge, Popoola stated that regional and international cooperation was needed to enhance information sharing.

    He also called for the review of extant provisions oj fishing in the country to provide sanctions that are commensurate to the crime.

    Popoola said there was need curb illegal exploitation of marine fisheries resource especially by foreign vessels, adding that the lack of fisheries protection patrol vessel was a hindrance.

    Listing the various fisheries provisions that warrant arrest, Popoola urged the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police to apprehend any fishing boat not duly licenced, or whose licence has expired.

    He said that the use of wrong category of fishing licence was also an offence, adding that boats fishing with poisonous substances dynamite or gamalin 20 should be arrested.

    According to him, no vessel should fish in restricted areas, which are five nautical miles non-trawling zone and breeding ground for juvenile fish.

    The seminar, which was organised to chart a new course in the arrest and prosecution of maritime criminals wad attended by the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Ports, Besan Gwana; the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship  (NNS) QUORRA, Commodore Francis Isaac and Commodore Omatseye Nasiama, who represented the Flag Officer Commanding  (FOC) NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, among others.

    Earlier, Gwana who represented the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Maritime said that there was decrease in maritime crimes in the last three years.

    Giving a four-year breakdown, Gwana noted that 389 cases were reported in 2011; 420 in 2012, 315 in 2013, 308 in 2014 and 171 last year.

    While noting that most of the cases were still under investigation, he said the command recorded convictions on a handful, some were acquitted and others awaiting trial.

    According to him, the police have put mechanisms such as surveillance, robust information gathering and awareness creation, as well as constant patrols in place as a preventive mechanism against maritime crimes.

    In her presentation, the legal officer, NAVTRAC, Lieutenant Commander P.U. Anyanwu canvassed the need for the creation of special courts to strictly handle maritime cases, adding that synergy there should be synergy between maritime stakeholders.

    “The Federal High Court is vested with the powers to try all maritime crimes in Nigeria. There has been a recent appeal by stakeholders in the maritime industry for the creation of the Maritime Court of Nigerian with sole jurisdiction to try maritime crimes.

    “This is the practice in China where the maritime court Judges normally undertake one year duty tour of the maritime environment to enable them appreciate the terrain when handling such cases. Unlike the practice in Nigeria where most of the Judges do not really appreciate the happenings in the marine environment to warrant them adjudicate properly on maritime cases,” she said.

  • Boko Haram: No victory for insurgents – NAF chief

    Boko Haram: No victory for insurgents – NAF chief

    … To take delivery of platforms

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar has debunked claims that Nigerian soldiers fled Boko Haram terrorists repelled attack in Borno State.

    BBC Africa had reported that Nigerian soldiers fled the fierce attack from the terrorists who carried sophisticated weapons on Monday.

    But Abubakar, who was in Lagos to inaugurate five projects completed by the Logistics Command including the installation of executive seats on the C-130 aircraft, insisted that the military has made substantial progress in the war.

    This is just as he disclosed that the AirForce was to take delivery of more platforms acquired following government’s approval.

    The AirForce Chief stated that the military was at the tail end of the operation in the northeast, adding that the insurgents can no longer move freely the way they used to in 2014 and early last year.

    He said: “Compare the situation in 2014 or the beginning of 2015 and today. You will agree with me that there is a world of difference.

    “Then, Boko Haram was moving in convoys of 15 to 20 vehicles from one community to the other. Such a thing is not happening again today.

    “I really do not want to comment on what happened on Monday because I don’t have details. But generally, I can tell you that we are making substantial progress in dealing with this problem. We are at the tail end of the northeast operations.”

    Abubakar also explained that the night training which commenced in Lagos on Monday night was a routine exercise.

    “Training is a continuous process for every AirForce. From time to time, we have programmes we undertake to ensure our officers and men are in the best of shapes to be able to deal with security challenges. It is just a routine training,” he said.
    Commending the Logistics Command for doing an excellent job, Abubakar said he was in Lagos to access infrastructure and ensure things were going well.

    “Lagos is logistics base of the Air Force. No matter how excellent an operational plan is, if it is not backed by logistics, you will run into difficulties. Came to access situation on ground and infrastructure and ensure things are going well. I am happy with what am seeing in the units. Logistics Command is doing an excellent job,” said Abubakar.

    While inaugurating the drainage and primary school classrooms at the 105 Communication Depot in Shasha, Abubakar said flood has always been a recurring decimal and a major problem confronting the base since its establishment.

    “When it rains, especially at the peak of the rainy seasons, the roads within the depot are impassible. We also lost our fence severally in the past as a result of flood.

    “I have been informed that control of flood is also a problem in the neighbouring Oba Ketu Community, which has led to avoidable loss of life and property. This is why we embarked on this project, to extend the drainage from outside our fence to the point where the flood will flow harmlessly into the central carnal.

    Earlier,  the Air Officer Commanding  (AOC) Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Mohammed noted that the projects would motivate the personnel to continuously put in their best for the attainment of the Force’ objectives.

    “For Instance, the avionics overhaul centre is expected to reinforce our culture of self – reliance and prudent management of resources in conformity with one of the key drivers of the CAS’ vision.

    “During the installation of the test benches of the Overhaul Centre, some of the C-130H aircraft rotables were repaired. They include Altitude Direction Indicator,  Autopilot Amplifier and ATC Transponder. This is a clear indication that the dividend derivable from the project is enormous,” he said.

    Also inaugurated were the rehabilitated water system and reconstructed 70 septic tanks at the Sam Ethnam Base, as well as re-roofing of vehicle shades and reactivation of Jet-A1 tankers at 407 Equipment Supply Depot.

  • Navy arrest six ‘vandals’, destroy hundreds of kegs, illegal refineries

    Navy arrest six ‘vandals’, destroy hundreds of kegs, illegal refineries

    In continuation of its war on pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves, operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) yesterday nabbed six suspects in Rivers State.
    This is just as NN personnel attached to the NNS BEECROFT in Lagos raided vandals’ haven around Atlas Cove, seizing hundreds of kegs the fleeing criminals abandoned.
    In an operation led by the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Abraham Adaji, the naval men, who restrained from shooting the vandals to avoid fire outbreaks, confiscated 21 drums of 250 litres each loaded with stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
    Also seized was a wooden Cotonou boat laden with 245 empty drums measuring 250 litres each and 91 empty Jerry cans measuring 25 litres each, while the suspects jumped into the water to evade arrest.
    Confirming the developments, Director, Naval information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe said the group ran out of luck as the naval team which was on routine surveillance patrol of the area discovered they were loading PMS from the NNPC Single point mooring at Atlas cove.
    He also disclosed that the six suspects nabbed in Rivers were being interrogated, adding that personnel on NNS PATHFINDER picked them up from a large warehouse at Ogbogoro Uzoba waterside around Choba.
    “The suspects who are now undergoing investigation were picked up from a large warehouse located at Ogbogoro Uzoba waterside around Choba in Port Harcourt Rivers State.
    “The raid is in continuation of the Chief of the Naval Staff’s strong resolve to stamp out all forms of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and other unwholesome activities that have impacted negatively on the security and economic development of Nigeria.
    “The warehouse is suspected to serve as a storage facility for illegally refined products. Also discovered in the facility include three wooden boats containing about 20,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO, 350 drums, several GP and metal tanks ranging from 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 litres storage capacity as well as seven pumping machines.
    “In addition, another Navy patrol team deployed from NNS DELTA discovered and destroyed two illegal refineries in Jones creek in Warri South West local Government Area of Delta State. The items also destroyed in the site include a Cotonou boat laden with about 66,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, four GP storage tanks measuring 500 litres each. The GP tanks contain 2,000 metric tons of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
    “Other items discovered at the site are 50 Jerry cans measuring 50 litres each containing 2.5 MT of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO, pumping machine, large metal tanks and a Cotonou boat,” said Ezekobe.

  • Navy foils vessel hijack, destroy several illegal refineries

    Navy foils vessel hijack, destroy several illegal refineries

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) has foiled attempts by suspected pirates to hijack an oil vessel, MT NORDIC FREEDOM around the Agbami oil field in the Niger Delta.
    This is just as several illegal refineries, boats and stolen Premium Motor Spirit  (PMS) and AGO hidden in the creeks by illegal bunkerers were destroyed by naval forces in the south-south region.
    It was learnt that operatives of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OKPABANA while on patrol at the weekend, were contacted by the BAHAMAS flagged vessel, which was being trailed by pirates.
    Other naval patrol teams also raided Ugborodo Itsekiri area in Warri, Ogbonga, Egbelema and adjoining creeks, as well as better land communities, where illegal refined products and illegal refineries were discovered.
    According to Director, Naval Information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, the recent operations dealt thr vandals big blow.
    He stated that an illegal refinery with large storage pits containing liquid suspected to be crude oil was discovered at Ugborodo Itsekiri, adding that the team also found a large Cotonou boat laden with 37 drums of suspected illegally refined AGO.
    “The refinery facilities were destroyed as the owners fled the scene before the arrival of NN team. Additionally, a raid conducted in the general areas of Ogbonga, Egbelema and adjoining creeks dealt a devastating blow on the activities of the illegal crude oil thieves.
    “Patrol team of the NN in that raid discovered two co-located active illegal refineries in Ogbonga creek. Further search led to the discovery and destruction of three suspected crude oil storage tanks and four suspected AGO storage tanks.
    “In the Egbelema axis, an active illegal refinery was discovered with two storage tanks. The refinery site and other facilities used for the illicit business were destroyed as the operators of the facilities fled the site in an apparent effort to evade arrest and prosecution.
    “Based on a tip off, the Naval patrol team conducted a raid at better land community. The team discovered an illegal refinery site with eight storage tanks.
    “Four of the eight tanks contained approximately 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while the other four had about 10,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO each.
    “Other items discovered and destroyed by the naval patrol team at the site include two Cotonou boats laden with large quantities of suspected crude oil, three fibre speed boats as well as one electric power generator.
    “However, the operators of the illegal refinery deserted the site before the arrival of the naval patrol team,” he said

  • Shakeup in the Navy as 38 senior officers are redeployed

    Shakeup in the Navy as 38 senior officers are redeployed

    In line with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas’  effort to reposition the Nigerian Navy (NN) for greater efficiency,
    38 senior officers were yesterday posted to head different formations and commands.
    The posting, which affected 34 Rear Admirals and four Commodores was said to have been aimed at injecting fresh drive into the NN’s operations and administration.
    A statement signed by the Director, Naval Information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe indicated that the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Raphael Osondu will hand over to former Navy Secretary Rear Admiral F.D. Bobai.
    “The FOC Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir will hand over to Rear Admiral J.O. Oluwole while the FOC Central Naval Command (CNC) Rear Admiral AO Suleiman hands over to Rear Admiral T. Dick.
    “Others are FOC Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo who hands over to Rear Admiral J.O. Okojie and the FOC Logistics Command Rear Admiral E.G. Ofik who hands over to Rear Admiral SAG Abbah.
    “The newly appointed Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Naval Headquarters include Rear Admiral J.A. Ajani – Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPLANS), Rear Admiral O.C. Medani – Chief of Administration (COA), Rear Admiral Henry Babalola- Chief of Naval Transformation (C NTRANS), Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo – Chief of Training and Operations (CTOPS), Rear Admiral EG Ofik – Chief of Naval Safety and Standard (CNASS) while Rear Admiral AO Odeh takes over as the Chief of Naval Engineering (CONE).
    “Moreso, new helmsmen were appointed for two major directorates at the Naval Headquarters. They are Rear Admiral IO Mohammed as Director of Project Implementation Directorate (DPIMED) and Surgeon Rear Admiral EE Enechukwu as Director of Medical Services (DMS),” said Ezekobe.

  • Arepo killings update: DHQ absolves soldiers of accusations

    Arepo killings update: DHQ absolves soldiers of accusations

    The Defence Headquarters’ spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar has said that there was no truth in the allegation that soldiers rounded up and killed the deceased.
    He described as unfair, the people’s claim, urging them to point their fingers elsewhere.
    According to him, all security agencies engaged in that operation have been committed towards protecting government infrastructure and the lives of innocent residents who were easy target for vandals.
    “To accuse soldiers of any of the killings is unfair. There is no iota of truth in that. I have received the details and I can tell you that there was no sign of gunshots nor was there anything to show military personnel or operatives engaged in Operation Awatse were responsible. In as much as we sympathize with the people over their loss, we advise that they should point their fingers elsewhere.
    “Why would soldiers kill people now? There has been no operation since Easter holiday. No encounter and nothing has happened. If the military was hostile towards the populace there, it would have taken revenge when some personnel were killed but we maintained peace.
    “How can we kill people we are out to protect? Caution should be applied in allegations like this. Miscreants have been siphoning fuel and vandalizing platforms of government. The government decided to give protection to the facilities as well as innocent residents by deploying security forces to the area,” he said.

  • Police orderly assaults gateman

    Police orderly assaults gateman

    A policeman on Wednesday assaulted a gateman for asking him to remove a car parked in front of a house.

    The incident occurred close to a Visa Application Centre in Lekki, Lagos.

    Virgilus Odueze, the gateman, was said to have approached the driver of the VolksWagen Touareg marked AKD630BD to tell him that he was blocking his master’s gate.

    Angered by the guard’s directive, the policeman believed to have escorted the car owner to the Visa Centre, stormed out of the car and started insulting the gateman.

    According to Odueze’s employer, Chijioke Uwandu, the policeman cocked his gun and pointed it at the gateman.

    “He cocked the rifle and pointed it at my security man. And then, he smashed his feet with it, resulting in severe injuries. This is a man that is very hypertensive. The policeman is attached as security detail to a VIP.

    “It happened around 11:45am. Due to the fact that we live in close proximity to a visa application centre in Lekki, several visitors to the centre often park haphazardly in front of our compound.

    “So, this vehicle parked in front of our residence and my security man came out and asked the driver of the vehicle to please move the car. But the policeman jumped out and insulted him.

    “When he insisted that they move the vehicle, the policeman cocked his rifle and pointed it at him, then smashed his feet with the rifle, resulting in severe injuries.

    “Once the policeman attacked him, people around tried to restrain him, but he was brandishing his gun. The people told my security man to run and out of fear, he retreated into the compound and locked himself in. In the commotion, the policeman zoomed off, leaving him in a pool of blood.

    “This is a man in his 50s and is hypertensive. I have taken him to the Naval Dockyard Medical Centre on Ahmadu Bello Way,Victoria Island for treatment,” he said.