LADY WHO SURVIVED TRAFFICKING AND LABOR ABUSE WARN GIRLS ABOUT TRAVELING TO OMAN FOR JOBS

AgegePulse magazine

BY OBIANUJU KEN

25 years old Oyinlola Solanke is a survivor of human trafficking to Oman.

After surviving the hard labour she was put through as a maid, the mother of two who hold a diploma in Local government studies from Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, is now a humanitarian personnel and an activist against any form of trafficking.

She shared her story stating that she had to fake her fathers death in order to be allowed back home in Nigeria.

Solanke tells her story

“I am a survivor of human trafficking. Sometime ago, last year in April, I had some personal issues with the father of my children. I didn’t have a job at that moment.

I kept complaining to his family that he was not being responsible. He was not helping me out with the two children I have and it was so hard taking care of them alone since I don’t have a job. I used to live with my mum with the two children, so I called him for us to get an apartment in Ibadan so that we can stay together. He agreed but few weeks before the time we were supposed to move to Ibadan, he called that he got a job in Lagos. I asked him ‘what about us? He said that he does not care. I insisted that I will come to Lagos to see the job and I found out that he works for his cousin’s husband.

 That was my first time of meeting his cousin and I decided to confide in her. I told her to help talk to him to be more responsible towards his children. During the conversation the fact that I don’t have a job came up and she told me that her younger sister is in Dubai working. Then she said that her sister told her that there is an opportunity to work in Dubai. I agreed.

At first they did not tell me the nature of the job. All they said was that I should send the data page of my passport and at that time, my passport had expired. I had to renew my passport and there was no money for that. I borrowed the money to renew my passport and I also had to do a police report. When I went to do the police report, I filled in Dubai as the destination I was going to because that was the country they kept mentioning to me. Till that time, they have not told me the nature of the job. After I sent the data page of my passport to them, within three days, the visa came out. When I told the lady in Dubai that my police report is ready, that was when she asked me where I filled as my destination, I told her I filled Dubai. She told me no, that the place I am going is not that far from Dubai that it is more like from Lagos to Abuja.”

“Not knowing she was just trying to trick me. The place that they were sending me was Oman. Oman is a different country even though it is not far from Dubai. I had to borrow money again to do another police report to correct it to Oman. They sent me my ticket any by the time the visa was out, that was when I found out that I was going to be working as a maid for a family. I was a bit reluctant. When I went to tell the cousin to the father of my kids, she was angry with me. She said that she has heard so much about me that I am a proud person. That I don’t have a job and I am being picky. That was when I decided to change my mind. I wanted to still be with the father of my kids and I didn’t want to have problems with the family. So I agreed and traveled. I had a few hitches in Kenya airport which delayed me.

when I got to Oman, I got to understand that the lady that sent me there asked the family for money for me to renew my passport which she never gave me and she was demanding I pay her all she spent for the visa including that of the passport renewal. The family I was to work for insisted that they will collect my passport and I refused. I told them I paid for my passport myself, that was when they told me that they paid for that too through the woman and she never told me. At first when I got to the family I was to work for, I was ok. They were nice. But the labour was just too much. I felt that as a maid, it is normal to go through labour abuse; I mean you are there to serve them. I wake up 5am and work, work that most times I forget to eat. I sleep like past midnight or 1am and I am still going to wake up at 5am again.”

Solanke explained that though she was given time to rest but the work load is too much for just one person. Her biggest fear started when the man of the house started making advances towards her.

“Sometimes I rest but when the work is just too much, the time they give me to sleep will pass and I am still working. I always tell them in Nigeria that I am fine. I always console myself because of my two kids because nothing good comes easy. The time I started having problems and I decided that I was going to come back was when my boss started disturbing me for sex. He would come to my room every night trying to have sex with me. I always battle with him, it becomes a fight. The only thing that helped me was that his wife was a full time house wife. It is only the little times she goes out to go get groceries or to greet her family that he would come and meet me. if the wife was a working class, I am very sure he would have succeeded. There was a time he hit me and my face was swollen. The wife asked me, I had to lie that I hit my face with fear that if I tell her, it would have been my words against his. I sent the pictures of my swollen face to Aunty Kehinde Okoroafor in Nigeria. Because of my boss constant barging into my room to try to have sex with me, I made up my mind that I don’t want to stay anymore. I called my family but there was nothing they could do. I contacted Mrs. Kehinde Okoroafor and she started paying attention to me. She called me every day to find out how I was doing. I had to plan with my friends. I sent a message to Efe Smith, a guitarist and told him to send a message to me the following day at 7pm to tell me that my dad is gone. I told him to act like he is my brother. I started telling all my friends to start pretending that I had lost my dad. They day I got the message, I pretended and started crying. I told them to give me my passport that I have to go to Nigeria. I said that I need to send my data page for my family to pay for my ticket back home.”

Solanke confirmed that if not for these staged acting, they would not have allowed her to come back home.

“No way. It is a contract and they will tell you that they have paid for your life and you cannot go until two year. At that time, I had stayed over six months. I already know that if you stay six months, you have paid of whatever money they spent on you. Before I left Nigeria, they told me that my salary would be 150,000 but when I got to Oman, what they paid me was 70 Omani Rial. In Naira, it’s not up to N70,000 monthly. I went through a lot. At the time I was faking the death of my dad, I could not eat or sleep. I lived in fear. Few weeks before I came back to Nigeria, I used to sleep in the bathroom because that was the only place where I was safe.

“The wife of my boss does not allow me to lock the door of my room. I can only close it. They too do not lock their room. They have this mentality that someone can die in their sleep and they won’t be able to open the door. Locking the do would have been the best way to keep the man away, since I could not do that, I started sleeping in the bathroom which was the only place I could lock up because he was always coming to me every night. I slept in that bathroom for weeks, sometimes I don’t even sleep. I will sit on the WC till morning. Sometimes I will be chatting with Mrs Kehinde and she would cry on the phone with me. When they allowed me to go, they said I have to book my ticket myself. Aunty Kehinde had to raise a campaign for me. The campaign was ‘Please help Oyinlola Get Back To Nigeria’. Many though it was a scam when she posted on facebook. Many helped out; some gave all they had in their account to help me. When my mum’s brothers finally booked my ticket, I told aunty Kehinde that we would return the money of many that helped. I saw the screenshot of someone that had only N5,000 in their account and donated N4,000. My coming back was just God’s intervention. I didn’t even allow my boss take me to the airport because I was afraid they can do something to me. At the airport I even saw a lady that spent only six days in Oman. She could not stand the labour.”

Solanke has been using her story to stop young girls in search of a better job abroad from travelling to Oman.

She stated that she will be launching a walk against human trafficking and labour soon to create awareness about the risks.

She also noted that Information reaching her suggests that many women and girls are moving from Ibadan, Osun state to Oman without knowing what they are going there to face there.

Allure.Vanguardng

19 pregnant girls rescued in another baby factory

AgegePulse Magazine

Barely a week after a-week-old baby was recovered from an illegal trade syndicate in Isheri-Osun, a Lagos community, the police have rescued 19 pregnant women at another baby factory.

The victims between ages 15 and 28 were said to have been kept at four different locations in Isheri-Osun and Ikotun where they were being ripped off their babies and sold N300,000 or N500,000 depending on the sex.

Four kids were also rescued in the operation led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Chike Ibe, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

The Nation reports that policemen and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs earlier in the year stormed another baby factory at Igando and rescued malnourished children, pregnant women at the facility that also ran an alleged illegal creche.



While some of the expectant mothers knew their babies would be sold, others were brought to Lagos with promises of job only to be turned to baby making factories.

It was gathered that some of the victims were abducted from their home states and brought to the locations where men allegedly took advantage of them.

Those who said they accepted to sell their children to the syndicate claimed they were not offered the money promised, it was gathered.

He said the victims were brought from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo States.

According to Police Spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), detectives acted on a tip off at about 4pm on September 19 and stormed 14, Adisa Street, Ayanwale in Ikotun, 32 Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun, 29, Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle Bus Stop Abaranja and 4/6 Anomo Street, Abaranja.

The Nation

TRANSSAFE Global Initiatives Honours CSP Yinka Egbeyemi

#AgegePulse Magazine

The Chairman of  Lagos Taskforce, CSP Saheed Yinka Egbeyemi was honoured yesterday by TRANSSAFE 360 Global Initiatives   during the safety Agency Annual General Meeting held at LASTMA's Headquarters, Oshodi area of Lagos.

#AgegePulse Magazine learnt that the Award was presented to him over his Outstanding Performance in Public Service and contributions to the Security and Safety of lives and properties in the State.

Egbeyemi who is fondly called 'White Lion' while receiving  the award, thanked the initiative of TRANSSAFE for organizing such laudable program, adding that the Award is dedicated to his team for their unalloyed support to ensure Lagos is safe for all and open for businesses.

25-year-old woman sells her three kids for N500,000

A 25-year-old woman, Blessing Stephen, has confessed to trading all her three kids for N500,000.

Stephen was a member of a child trafficking syndicate recently smashed by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.


Other arrested members of the syndicate are a self-acclaimed doctor, Una Godwin 58; Blessing John 27; Israel Ariyo 33; Itoro Anthony; 40 and Mforbong Ntoro, 48.

The operatives had launched a manhunt for one of the suspects, John, who abandoned a four-year-old boy in a church in the Ketu area of the state.

John was said to have abducted the boy, Ojo, at Ikota Housing Estate in Ajah sometime July 2019 and sold him in Akwa Ibom State to Ntoro for N350,000.

AgegePulse Magazine learnt that Ntoro’s neighbours were alarmed by Ojo’s incessant cries and became suspicious, which forced the woman to return the child to John, asking her to get a baby as replacement.

John reportedly brought Ojo back to Lagos and abandoned him inside the church located along the road on the pretext that she wanted to pick some loads on the other side of the road.

Our correspondent learnt that the church reported the incident at the Ketu Police Station and the boy was later reunited with his parents.

Consequently, a petition was addressed to the IRT to fish out the suspect.

The team tracked down John a few weeks ago in Ibadan, Oyo State, and she led them to arrest her accomplices, Stephen and Ntoro.


She told the police that it was hardship that made her to engage in child trafficking, adding that she needed money to treat an ailment she was battling with.

John said, “I did an abortion which backfired. I had a surgery and needed money to continue treatment. I contacted my friend, Blessing Stephen, and she told me I could raise money by stealing a child. I abducted the boy and took him to Ibadan, Oyo State, where Blessing lived with her husband (Israel Ariyo).

“The boy spent three days with them before we took him to Akwa Ibom where we sold him to Mrs Ntoro for N350,000.”


Stephen, a native of Nsitayi, Akwa Ibom State, said apart from Ojo, she had sold three children of hers to Ntoro, who in turn resold them.

She said, “I once lived in Ikota, Ajah. I dated one Julius Abang and he impregnated me. I had a boy named Emmanuel for him in 2010 and the following year, we broke up. My mother was taking care of me and the boy but when life became unbearable, I sought advice from Mrs Ntoro, who is from my village.

“She advised me to sell the child and tell his father that he is dead. I sold him for N150,000. In 2012, my mother died and I travelled to Akwa Ibom for her burial. I dated another man, a truck driver, and he impregnated me. After some time, he abandoned me and I sold the child I had for him for N100,000.

“In 2013, I met another lover who is a motorcycle rider. Within six months, he impregnated me but he was so poor that he could not even feed me or pay rent. The engine of the motorcycle packed up and he became jobless. We sold the baby for N250,000 and Mrs Ntoro collected N20,000. Later Mrs Ntoro called from the village that she needed another baby boy. I told Blessing (John) but unfortunately we ran into trouble.”

It was gathered that Ntoro, while being interrogated by the police, disclosed that she worked with Anthony and Godwin.

Anthony said Godwin, who was the husband of her late friend, contracted her to look for buyers for children, adding that he received about N300,000 proceeds from two babies they sold.

Godwin said he helped women to sell their babies because they were desperately in need of money.

He said, “A woman told me that her husband was doing illegal oil bunkering and was killed in the process. She said life was tough for her and that she wanted to sell one of her five children to survive the hardship. I told Mrs Anthony to look for a buyer. She sold the baby N450,000 and I gave the mother N350,000 and I collected only N100,000.”

The police said Ntoro and Godwin were being investigated to track those they the children to.

Credit: The Punch

Price of Rice Goes Up, Up Again

AgegePulse Magazine

Consumers have expressed concern as the price of rice has continued to increase, a development, which has left vendors and consumers bitter.



Early this year, former Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Audu Ogbeh said the country had attained 90 per cent of rice production.

He said the country had moved from being a major importer of rice to being self-reliant in its production. He said it did not only have the capacity to feed itself, but had also become a major player in agricultural export to other countries.

Like Ogbeh, the Rice Farmers Association (RIFAN) said the country had attained a yearly production of eight million metric tonnes of rice, with a target of 18 million metric tonnes by 2023.


The contrast

These indices seemed to be farfetched from what was obtained in some markets visited. Rice vendors lamented the shortage. Since the border closure, they claimed that manufacturers and distributors had distributed short supply and the goods were rationed to get an even distribution in various markets across the country.

They said sometimes they were  out of goods because the manufacturers did not have rice to sell.  The shortfall they noted has been the major cause for the constant increase in price as manufacturers cannot meet up with the demand.

Barely three weeks after the closure of the border, the price of Nigerian rice skyrocketed from N12,000 – N13,300 to N15,000. At the moment, it is being sold for between N17, 000 and N19,000, depending on the brand. Brands, such as Famous, Lake Rice, Bigbull, Al-hamzad, Humza, and Olams Labana fall in this category.  A  derica of rice sells for N350 to N400. It is believed that, in few days, the price would go beyond N20,000.

The Nation

Lagos Taskforce Arrests 14 Suspects with Illegal Drugs

AgegePulse Magazine

The operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) raided an illegal brothel around Mile 2 area of Lagos in the early hours of today and arrested five notorious miscreants and nine prostitutes with illegal drugs.

Chairman of the Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi said the raid became imperative following complaints that criminal activities around Mile 2 towards Festac were perpetrated by miscreants who reside in the illegal brothel.


Egbeyemi disclosed that the brothel had previously been demolished by the Agency during the clearing of illegal structures, shanties and containerised shops from Eric Moore Road down to Trade Fair axis.


"It was disheartening seeing that the demolished brothel had been re-built by the owner after it was demolished for illegal construction on road setbacks. The last time we demolished the illegal brothel, those miscreants taking refuge there at night attacked our officers with dangerous weapons", Egbeyemi disclosed.


He stated further that the brothel is noted for harbouring criminals who rob unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables and also serves as an outlet for the sale of illegal drugs such Indian hemp, Tramadol and other sex enhancement drugs, especially to underaged children.


The Taskforce Chairman maintained that the present administration would not fold its arms and allow miscreants to make life difficult for law-abiding citizens.

He confirmed that the illegal brothel was again demolished this morning by the Agency.


While assuring members of the public that the Agency and other security agencies would not rest on their oars, CSP Egbeyemi declared that all those arrested would be charged to court in compliance with the directive of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zubairu Muazu.

Electrification: Agege residents praise Hon. Anigbajumo for prompt response

AgegePulse Magazine

Some residents around Agege modern Stadium have praised the Leader of the Legislative of the Council, Hon. Kolawole Anigbajumo for prompt response to the faulty electricity poles in the area.

Hotnewsnaija Online has reported that two poles, within Stadium area, are faulty and could create a dead trap for residents.

One of the residents, Tunde Gbeleyi, said, "Hon. Anigbajumo is a responsive politician and willing to help always."

Another resident stated that the Council leader is a good man in all ramifications.
"Look at the way he has solved the problem of these  electric poles for us. He called the Ikeja Distribution Company officials and facilitated the payment of the poles.

"If not because of him, we will still be in darkness now. Anigbajumo is a good politician," he said

A commercial motor cycle rider, Edet, informed Hotnewsnaija Online that the councilor is humble and considerate.
He said, " I was there when the poles fell down.I was surprised that the poles have been fixed within 24-hours.When I asked the IKEDC people, they told me that the council leader is behind it.

"If you don't know him, you won't know he is the council leader.He is very humble and nice,"

NIGERIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ROCHDALE, UK CELEBRATE NIGERIA @ 59

…Innovates With Flag Raising and Black - History Month Gala Dinner

AgegePulse Magazine

Ahead of the forthcoming 59th Independence celebration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Nigeria Community Association (NCA) Rochdale, United Kingdom, have reeled out top notch arrangements aimed at making the day worthy of its cause.

NCA Rochdale, UK as gathered, is one of the leading socio-cultural organisations in the United Kingdom dedicated to the celebration and expansion of the frontiers of the Nigerian Brand; renowned for its legendary and outstanding socio-cultural values and heritage.

According to the Convener, Hon. Mrs Mary Adekugbe, “NCA is an evolution of my personal and professional passion and commitment to the projection of Nigeria’s rich cultural values; with a secondary objective of fostering unity amongst the multi ethnic groups residing in the United Kingdom”.

“Interestingly, given my professional antecedents, it initially started with an idea of ‘Nigerians in Rochdale’ Communal perspective but the resounding successes accompanying our various activities within a short period of its inception, necessitated our ever relentless unique innovation and expansion”, she added.

Adekugbe also explained that progressive efforts are constantly birthed towards increasing the scope and horizon of the association for a wholistic Pan - Nigerian picture; ultimately focussing on having representatives and active participation from all major tribes of Nigeria living in the United Kingdom.

As part of plans for the 59th Independence celebration of Nigeria in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, Adekugbe disclosed that the planning committee have outlined innovative activities for the day.

“We are actually kick-starting the day with a Flag Raising ceremony at the Rochdale Town Hall, United Kingdom with Nigerians living in Rochdale and other parts of United Kingdom as well as top officials of the Rochdale Municipal Council in attendance”.

“The party train will converge later in the day for our Independence anniversary dinner tagged ‘Black – History Month Gala Dinner’. Besides the usual inter-personal networking, the unity in diversity theme would also play active role at the dinner with a display of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage”, she stated.

Continuing, Adekugbe added that this coming event shall thrive on NCA’s passion for communal charity and humanism. Outstanding recognition and awards would be given out to deserving awardees who have all contributed in their own way to the development of the Nigerian Community in the United Kingdom.

“We are also aiming at making a public presentation of our proposed project tentatively tagged ‘The Nigeria Community Association Centre’; a building project for the association’s administrative, operational and charity purpose specifically dedicated to being a ‘home away from home’ for Nigerians in diaspora. Beyond my personal conviction, it is a reflection of NCA’s commitment to one of our corporate social responsibilities”, Adekugbe said.

Interestingly, and in view of the fact that October is Black History Month, NCA is also leveraging on this unique time and opportunity to celebrate the history, achievements and contributions of the black race to the global world. This and other initiatives, according to Adekugbe is chiefly aimed at expanding the horizon to bridge the gap between Nigerians and their host communities.

Scheduled to hold on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at the prestigious Castlemere Banqueting Hall in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, the event has generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst Nigerians in United Kingdom and in diaspora.

“With all sense of modesty, NCA Rochdale has created a niche for itself as a Nigerian socio-cultural brand offering a platform of cultural projection, social integration and professional networking; regardless of colour, race, religion or ethnicity”.

Given our experience and level of preparation, as well as the various support we are getting from all and major stakeholders, I am confident that this coming event will be nothing short of glitz, glamour and most especially, success!”, Adekugbe hinted.

Scores injured in Lagos union fracas

AgegePulse Magazine

One person was feared killed in a fracas between transport union members in Okokomaiko Motor Park on Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night around 8pm

The Nation learnt that many were injured as the gangsters used dangerous weapons freely during the melee.

Motorists and passersby on the busy route were said to have scampered for safety.



The warring groups, it was learnt, inflicted injuries on those caught unawares.

Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State chapter Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) told The Nation that NURTW members were not involved in the fracas

Akinsanya said those fighting are members of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

He said, “I have called our members at Okokomaiko Motor Park and they told me that it is RTEAN members that are fighting. I also sent some people to find out what is happening in Okokomaiko but I got the same report that those fighting are not members of our union.

” In any case, there is no reason for our members to fight one another because we have warned that the branches’ leadership should remain in office. We have also warned that no one should go and take over any branch.

“Anyone that does that risks being jailed. So, there is no point for our members to fight themselves.”

The NURTW boss said insinuation that he and his predecessor, Tajudeen Agbede are at loggerheads should be jettisoned.

“We were still together. There is no issue between us. He is an elder statesman in the union who wants peace to reign and he demonstrated it in his actions. People should cross-check their facts before going on social media, ” he said.

It would be recalled that a leadership tussle is brewing between the Lagos State chapter of the RTEAN and its national body.

Both in different publications announced the removal and counter-removal of the National President and the state executive.

The Nation

Police raid Kaduna home, free 300 people in chains

AgegePulse Magazine

The police in Kaduna on Thursday raided a home with over 300 people in Rigasa in the Igabi Local Government Area of  Kaduna State.

The cops freed about 300 people who were chained in the house, including children.

They were said to be from Burkina Faso, Mali and other African countries, according to the force.

The children were said to have confessed to being abused homosexually.


Some of the others were said to have been subjected to daily recitation of the Holy Quran and prayers with torture.

According to Bello Hamza, a 42-year-old inmate, he was tricked to the centre by his family who are interested in taking “over my share of our inheritance.”

“I have spent three months here. I am supposed to be pursuing my Masters at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.


“This is supposed to be an Islamic centre, but trying to run away from here attracts severe punishment; they tie people and hang them to the ceiling. However, engaging in homosexuality attracts no punishment.”

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Police, Ali Janga, said, “We received information that something is going on in this rehabilitation centre or Islamic centre. On getting here, we discovered that this is neither a rehabilitation centre nor Islamic school.

Punch

Yahoo Boy Who Bought N125m Houses During His NYSC Makes Shocking Confession

AgegePulse Magazine

Victor Ojionu, a 30-year-old electrical engineering graduate, has told security agents that during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) he bought two buildings for N125 million.

Ojionu, who graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said he became an internet fraudster in 2015, during his NYSC in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

He said: “I learnt the internet fraud business in 2015 during my NYSC days in Cross Rivers State. I bought a house worth N60 million from the deal before I relocated to Abuja, where I bought another house for N65 million.

“What I do is mainly on the Alibaba site, where I trade with hacked credits cards.  I buy my goods in China and sell them in Ghana. I bring the proceeds to Nigeria, where I have invested large portion of it on properties.”


Ojionu is presently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Security agents said Ojionu specialised in hacking into credits cards belonging to Nigerians and foreign nationals.

He was arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, for stealing over N500 million, within five years.

The suspect was later handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

Ojionu was alleged to have succeeded in defrauding his victims using a popular online retail site, Amazon.Com, where he allegedly sells books.

A security agent said: “The suspect designed a payment portal, known as Payoneer, which he linked to his book selling website on, Amazon.Com. He steals credits cards details and identities of its owner using his Payoneer, his payment portal.

“Once Ojionu succeeds in stealing the credit cards details of his victims, he would proceed in buying baby diapers, wipers, wristwatches and other expensive items from another online retail store, Alibaba.Com in China, and he would send the purchased items to Ghana, where they would be sold to his waiting buyers.  After the items have been sold, Ojionu would travel to Ghana, retrieve his money from his buyers and send the proceeds to Nigeria through a Bureau de Change operator.

Ojionu has succeeded in buying two expensive cars, three mansions in Abuja, Cross Rivers and Imo states. The suspect also has a property under construction at Dabo Estate at Life Camp area of Abuja.”

Trouble started for Ojionu after one of his victims alerted the police and the EFCC about the theft of his credit card details. The complaint further noted that money, running into millions of naira, was removed from his account.

The complaint wrote a petition to the IG, Mohammed Adamu, who then instructed Kyari and his unit to investigate the matter. The suspect was subsequently arrested and handed over to the EFCC.

The IRT operatives trailed Ojionu to one of his mansions in Abuja, where he was apprehended.

Nairaland

You Can Now Get Meter Activation Token Online, Says Ikeja Electric

AgegePulse Magazine

In line with our core values and objective of improving our customer service delivery, Ikeja Electric has introduced meter activation tokens on its website.

This means all newly metered customers can get their meter activation tokens by visiting http://www.ikejaelectric.com/keychange/ then type in their meter numbers to obtain the tokens.

Simply follow these steps:

Log in to IE portal http://www.ikejaelectric.com/keychange/
Input your meter number.
Click the submit bottom.
Activation token will be displayed instantly.

*This can be done on your phone.

Please note that if a token is not generated for your meter number this means that your meter installation hasn't been certified by our Quality Assurance & Quality Control team.

Power Outage: Ikeja Electric, Egunjobi set to restore power in Agege

#AgegePulse Magazine

Following the breakdown of one of high tension pole in Ijaye road, very close to Council Secretariat, that has put many homes in darkness for days.

The Electricity company, Ikeja Electric and the Executive chairman of Agege LG , Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi have set to restorethe  power to residents that got affected by this incident.

AgegePulse gathered that the damaged pole has been replaced with the support of the council boss and will be installed today.

While sympathising with affected residents and business owners in Agege  Egunjobi through his Chief of Staff, Mr. Oriade Saheed Ademola said that, the power would be restore in coming days.

Poultry Venture Initiative Excites TGPS, Barr. Solarin

...Lauds the Initiative, Calls others to emulate

AgegePulse Magazine

The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary(TGPS) Lagos State Education District 1, Barr. Titilayo Margaret Solarin, Solarin Titi was so excited following the initiative of poultry  venture at Government Girls Junior College in Agege.

Barr. Solarin commended the school administrative during a  familiarity tour to Government Girls Junior College, Agege.

She said, "this is laudable,  and I call other School Principals to emulate".

AgegePulse gathered  that the poultry venture initiatives "is to open students to opportunities in agriculture and livestock business". Said School Principal, Mrs. Bola Alamu

El-Rufai Keeps Promise, enrols son in public primary school

Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State on Monday enrolled his six-year-old child, Abubakar into primary one in Capital School Malali, Kaduna, a public school, in fulfillment of a promise he made in 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Rufa’i had in a state broadcast in December 2017, promised to enroll his child in a public school when he turns six years.

“The move is part of reforms to revamp public schools in the state to make them more competitive.

“We are determined to fix public education and raise their standards so that private education will become only a luxury.



“As we make progress, we will require our senior officials to enroll their children in public schools.

“And I will by personal example ensure that my son that will be six years of age in 2019 will be enrolled in a public school in Kaduna State, by God’s grace,” El-Rufa’i had said.

Briefing newsmen shortly after he enrolled the child, El-Rufa’i explained that it was a commitment that had been fulfilled.

“I made that commitment because I believe that it is only when all political leaders have their children in public schools that we will pay due attention to quality of public education.

“I went to a public school like this. In fact, the school I went to is not as good as this one, but here I am, because of the quality teaching I got.

“My intention is to ensure that all our public schools offer quality education, and so we are encouraging all our senior public servants to send their children to public schools.

“Once the public schools are improved to a point they are nearly as good or even better than private schools, no one will waste his money taking his child to private school,” he said.

Ummi El-Rufa’i, the mother of the child said: “l am glad that we are able to send a strong message to our leaders and the elites, that we need to start making things work from within our homes.

“By the time we start attending public hospitals and send our children to public schools, the system will get better. This is a very huge step,” she said.

On his part, the little child said: “I am sad that I will miss my old school, my friends and my teachers. But I have to help my father keep his promise” .

The Nation

Why I orchestrated Killing and beheading of our gang leader –Kidnap suspect

AgegePulse Magazine

By Juliana Francis and Ridwan Wakilu

Operatives of the Inspector- General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Led by DCP Abba Kyari have smashed the gang behind the abduction of the Chief Accountant of Plantgeria Limited, an oil servicing firm, operating in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The victim, Dr. SMC Maduagwu, was kidnapped and a ransom of N20million paid for his release.

Four among the alleged kidnappers have been arrested. The suspects, including a native doctor, have been identified as Tony Rafael, Nnaji Romanus, Nwobodo Uche and Uchechukwu Ibekwe. According to police sources, the suspects were grabbed in their hideouts in Rivers and Imo states. The police said that the suspects have admitted to abducting the Accountant and collecting N20million ransom.

It was gathered that the leader of the gang, Christian Kenjika alias School-Boy, was beheaded by a rival cult group before the operatives could arrest him. It was further learnt that Kenjika had four AK47 rifles and two Pump Action short guns in his armoury before he was killed. The source further said: “School- Boy carried out several kidnappings within Rivers State and was declared wanted by the Rivers State Government.

The government placed a bounty of N20million on him in 2018. He met his waterloo when one of his gang members, Uche, who wanted to take over leadership of the gang, gave out his location to members of De-Gbam confraternity. De-Gbam confraternity had been hunting for him for long.” The hunt for School-Boy and his gang members started after the IGP instructed the IRT Unit, headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, to ensure the rescue of Maduagwu. The gang was alleged to have specialised in robbery, cultism and other heinous crimes. Kyari and some members of the unit launched an investigation and by March got information on the activities of the gang of kidnappers.

The Accountant was abducted in February 2018. Part of what the operatives discovered was that a driver working at Planteria Limited, gave information about Maduagwu to members of the gang. This information aided the gang in the abduction of the victim. The driver, Ibekwe, when arrested, made confessional statement that assisted IRT operatives in the arrest of other members of the gang, including the one who orchestrated the murder of School-Boy. According to Ibekwe, 37, he planned the abduction of Maduagwu because he refused to grant him a salary advance. He explained that when he requested for the salary advance, Maduagwu shouted at him. Ibekwe, who is married with three children, said that shouting embarrassed and angered, thus he plotted how to get even with his boss.

He said: “I am a driver to an oil services company known as Plantgeria in Rivers State. I was employed in the 2007 and transferred to Shell Oil to work as a driver in 2017. I was later recalled and posted to the head office of our company to work as a driver to an expatriate. But in 2018, I applied for a salary advance, a sort of a loan from our company. I met the Chief Accountant of our company to perfect the loan, he shouted at me and sent me out of his office.

“I left his office, angry. I thought of how to deal with him. Unfortunately, I got a call from a friend of mine, Stanley, who is also from my community. Stanley was into armed robbery and kidnapping. I narrated what happened between the Chief Accountant and I to him and he suggested that we should kidnap him or any of the expatriates.

I preferred that we should kidnap the accountant, so I gave Stanley the necessary information.

On the day he was to be kidnapped, Stanley called me and I also spoke with Uche. They asked me to inform them when the man would be leaving his office. I did and the next day, I got news from my office that the man had been kidnapped. I was later given the sum of N800, 000 after ransom was paid. I didn’t know the exact amount that was paid as ransom.

I bought a Nissan Primera with my share of the money. “One year after the incident, I was at home with my wife, when policemen entered and arrested me. I’ve told the police all I know about the kidnapping. I also told them that I’ve never gone out with the gang to carry out any form of kidnapping or armed robbery.”

Uchechukwu, 38, who masterminded the beheading of School- Boy, revealed that he orchestrated the murder of his gang leader because the latter was greedy. Uchechukwu, a father of five children, said: “I am a fulltime farmer, but I went into kidnapping when my wife had stroke. The doctor treating her asked for N200, 000. I approached School-Boy as our gang leader, but he gave me only N100, 000.

He told me about the accountant and said that I should keep him under surveillance. I did that for one month. On the day of the abduction, I followed the accountant as he left his office. I tailed him on a motorcycle. When he got to Oil Mill Junction, School-Boy and his other gang members in their police and military uniform, fully armed, accosted and took him into a Toyota Hilux and drove away.

“The man was taken to my farm, where he was kept and ransom negotiation started. Although I wasn’t in the farm with them, after the kidnapping, School-Boy gave me the remaining N100, 000 to give to my wife’s doctor as his balance payment. “Two weeks later, School-Boy called and informed me that N10 million had been paid as ransom for the accountant’s release.

At that time,I didn’t doubt him and he took us and every other person that took part in the operation to the home of a native doctor known as Romanus Nnaji. He started sharing money. He gave me N1.5million to give to Ibekwe and Stanley the informant. He then gave me N500, 000 as my own share.

A few months after that operation, I got a call that my brother has been arrested by the police over the kidnapping of the accountant.

It was then I learnt that the operation fetched us N20million and not N10million as School- Boy claimed. I was angry over the fact that School-Boy cheated every one of us. It meant that he kept N10million to himself and had the gut to share N10million with us.

“I didn’t say anything because policemen were looking for me. I went to a church in Akwa Ibom State for prayers and to ask God for forgiveness.

Police trailed me to the church. Fortunately, when they entered the church, I was in the toilet. When I noticed the police van, I escaped into a nearby bush.”When he got home, he called School-Boy. He told him that policemen were looking for him, that he was tired of running and was thinking of going to police to surrender himself. When School-Boy heard that, he allegedly threatened to him.

Uchechukwu narrated: “I then ran to Imo State, where I stayed for three weeks. IRT men again, came to Imo State to look for me, I escaped. While on the run, I called School- Boy and asked him to give me my share of the other N10million, so that I could leave the Nigeria, but he refused.
I felt the best thing I should do was to set him up and get him killed. I contacted some members of De-Gbam confraternity, who had been looking for him. I gave out his location; they attacked and beheaded him. After I had succeeded in taking out School-Boy, I contacted a lawyer in Owerri Imo State, where I was hiding with my pregnant wife. I told him what happened and asked for his professional advice on what I should do since the police were looking for me. The nurse at the hospital where my wife had gone to deliver her baby called and told me that policemen had trailed my wife to the hospital. I ran away again.

I was later arrested in June 2019 by IRT operatives in Orlu Imo State.”

Romanus, 50, a native doctor, whose role was to prepare charms for the gang members, confessed that he was paid N200,000 to perform oath, whereby members of the gang would never betray one another. He said: “Since I was born, this is the first time I would be arrested.

Sometime last year, a group of young men came into my compound. One of them, known as School-Boy said that he wanted everyone of them to take an oath, that they would never betray one another.
I was to admitter the oath. I asked him to bring N100, 000. He also brought other items like dog, water, pepper and vegetable.

 I killed the dog and poured its blood on my shrine. I told them that anyone who betrayed another would die. “I poured the pepper and vegetable on the shrine. I said that anyone who betrayed any member of the gang, would die. I drank the water and then gave it to them to drink.

School-Boy paid N100, 000 for my services. By 10pm that day, they brought a big bag load of money into my shrine and shared it. I didn’t know the amount of money inside the bag, but I was given N50, 000 in N500 denomination. I asked how they got the money, but School-Boy said he would come back to tell me. The next thing I heard was that School Boy had been killed.

Copied

World Cleanup Day: LAWMA canvasses cleaner environment for Lagos

AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reiterated the need for residents to support government’s efforts at establishing a cleaner and healthier environment in the state, on the occasion of this year’s World Cleanup Day.

According to the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, this year’s event provides the opportunity for people to have a rethink on how they treat their environment, considering the negative implications of improper waste disposal.

He said: “The World Cleanup Day is a global social action program aimed at combating the global solid waste problem and this is good a platform to remind our people of the negative consequences of indiscriminate waste dumping, which affects not only the environment, but the people that live in it”.

Dr. Gbadegesin noted that in line with Governor  Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s recent Executive Order on Traffic and Sanitation, the Authority had intensified efforts to clear notable black spots cross the state, especially along the Lagos Badagry Expressway – LASU/Okomaiko axis, with the overall aim of achieving zero waste policy and making the environment livable.

He said further that: “We are stepping up our operations to rid the state of black spots. Our aim is to establish cleaner and livable environment across the state. You will recall that the agency has rolled out various programs like “Lagos at 4am” and the “Blue Box” initiative, to promote recycling and waste sorting at source”.

The LAWMA boss revealed that efforts were ongoing to rehabilitate landfills in the state, to ensure that the roads leading to the sites were motorable all year round, to improve the turnaround time of waste evacuation trucks.

“Our landfills are undergoing rehabilitation to improve the turnaround time for waste evacuation, while the PSP operators are being supported to step up domestic waste collection”, he stated.

And to curb indiscriminate dumping on the road median, Dr.  Gbadegesin said the Authority had intensified its enforcement operations against all forms of improper waste disposal in the metropolis, with a clampdown on cart-pushers who engage in indiscriminate dumping on road medians, setbacks, canals and other unauthorized locations.

Dr. Gbadegesin appealed to residents to shun all forms of improper waste disposal methods, which could trigger flooding as the rains persist, adding that people should bag their waste appropriately and patronise only assigned PSP operators.

He commended all corporate organizations, volunteers, NGOs and recyclers which had partnered with LAWMA on the occasion of this year’s World Cleanup Day and urged others to emulate them.

For inquiries and complaints, please call LAWMA toll-free lines 07080601020 and 617.

BREAKING: Egunjobi Sets To Build New Health Centre In Agege

#AgegePulse Magazine

...As He Converts Slum Into Monument

Going by the reliable information reaching AgegePulse now, we can tell you authoritatively that the people of Agege will get a new Primary Health Care Centre soon.

It was gathered that the vibrant Chairman of Agege LGA, Hon Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi and his team have concluded plans to turn an erstwhile den of miscreant on Awori Street, Agege into a monument for the people.

Sources close to the silent achieving council boss said the development is part of his campaign promises to ensure people of that environment enjoy free and accessible family healthcare facility.

AgegePulse learnt that, the construction work will commenced soon as the contractor is putting final touches on the project plans.

According to the Executive Chairman, the proposed site has been an uncompleted building for years and has turned to become a hideout for hoodlums in the area, hence the need to take drastic measures to checkmate their excesses.

Whereas, the healthcare facility when completed would not only relief the community of security threats, but will add core value to afford them easy accessible medical reach. This facility is expected to serve the entire immediate communities, Markaz area, Awori, Kadiri, Bode Tobun,  Alhaja Sifau, Shodipo, Balogun Ilawe, Adesokan, Ijaiye Streets, Oniwaya Road and environs.

Sanwo-Olu Gives N20K/-each to 315 Returnees from South Africa

...To be Transferred To LSETF for Skill Acquisition

AgegePulse Magazine

Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday gave N20,000 to each of the second batch of 315 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa.

The fresh batch of returnees arrived a week after another 187 Nigerians fleeing xenophobia came back from South Africa.

The joyous returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 7.21p.m aboard an Air Peace B777 aircraft with registration number 5N-BWI.

The flight, which originated from the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg was received by Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Air Peace Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema.

Also on ground was Mr Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Diaspora.

Presenting the token on behalf of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mr. Jermaine Sanwoolu, SSA on Diaspora and Foreign Relations said that the money was a palliative for the returnees.

Sanwo-Olu said that the returnees from Lagos State would be transferred to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), where they would be trained on skill acquisition.

Dabiri-Erewa told newsmen that the returnees would be profiled according to their states and local governments of origin to complement the federal government’s effort in reintegrating them.

She said apart from giving the returnees stipends to get back to their respective states, there was also a medical team on ground to provide assistance to those with medical conditions.

Dabiri-Erewa also noted that the Nigeria High Commission was working with the South African authorities to reduce the unnecessary delays which had so far characterised the evacuation exercise.

On his part, Onyema told newsmen that some Nigerians were stranded in South Africa for over four years and could not return home due to financial difficulties and lack of proper documentation.

He said: “What Air Peace is doing to freely evacuate Nigerians from South Africa is part of our support to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and we are doing it wholeheartedly.

“The airline is only asking the government to do what it has been doing to facilitate the smooth return of the Nigerians.

“We are not asking for any refund because we knew that the cost of evacuating the Nigerians will exceed N300 million at the end of the day.

“We are so happy that even our pilots and crew that went to South Africa refused to take their allowances saying that it is their own way of showing patriotism,” Onyema said.

He commended the Nigerian government for the matured diplomatic way it was handling the xenophobia issue with its South African counterpart and called on other well-meaning Nigerians to assist in the resettlement of the returnees.

One of the returnees, Chuks Okoma from Delta State, thanked God for sparing his life considering the ordeal faced by Nigerians in South Africa.

Okoma said that he had been in South Africa for six years without a job and sleeping in the street.

Another returnee, Michael Udoh, narrated how some foreigners were burnt in South Africa, adding that they were unable to move around.

Udoh, who had been in South Africa for six years, said that the country refused to renew his work permit after it expired, thus making him jobless.

INSPIRED!11-Year Old Nigerian Artist Kareem Waris beats 2,723 Candidates to Win Top Taiwanese Award

AgegePulse Magazine

11-year-old Nigerian hyperrealistic artist, Kareem Waris Olamilekan, has emerged the recipient of the Taiwan’s Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation‘s “22nd Fervent Global Love of Lives Award”, beating 2,723 other recommended candidates in the world.

The Representative of Taiwan in Nigeria, Amb. Vincent Yang, made this known in Lagos on Wednesday, according to Punch.

He said that Waris Kareem, who had gained global recognition for his incredible drawings, stood out among other 2,723 recommended candidates across the world and would meet the Taiwanese President, Tsai Ing-wen, among other laureates.

According to him, Kareem will attend charity events with other laureates, scheduled to hold in Taipei from Sept. 20 to Sept. 28, during which he will meet the Taiwanese President.

Yang said that his office and the Head of Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria had hosted and congratulated Kareem on his feat.

Recall, AgegePulse learnt that the creative talented Kareem is a pupil of Oke-Odo Junior College under EDDI, Agege

He gained global fame back in 2018 after he sketched a stunning portrait of French President, Emmanuel Macron, on the spot in just two hours, during the President’s visit to Lagos. A feat which put him on the global media

BellaNaija

Democracy Award: Scribe 57 Congratulates Tinubu, Ethopian PM

...As Gbenga Abiola Charges Youths To Involve in Politics

AgegePulse Magazine

Association of Secretaries to the Local Government of Lagos State, Scribe 57 has congratulated the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, who won the African Democracy Award recently in Ethiopia.


A statement on Tuesday said they were recognised for their efforts to grow democracy and good governance on the African continent.

According to the statement, the award was conferred on them at the 4th African Political Summit and Diamond Awards in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.



The award was said to be the highlight of a three-day conference on Campaign Financing and Elections in Africa, an initiative of the Association of Political Consultants, Africa.

According to the president of APC Africa, Kehinde Bamigbetan, “ the award serves to recognise and encourage icons of democracy and good governance in Africa. It has been our culture to celebrate those political figures who have done a lot to promote democracy in their respective countries.”

He described Ahmed as an outstanding leader who had done a lot to strengthen democracy, human rights, press freedom and peace in East Africa.


Bamigbetan said Tinubu was recognised for his commitment to democracy and human rights.

“Asiwaju is a political figure whose impacts have been felt not just in Nigeria, especially with the historic election of President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the opposition APC, but also across many countries in Africa,” he added.


Amongst the major participants and delegates from Nigeria, Chairman of Scribe 57, Mr. Lekan Bakare and Hon. Gbenga Abiola amongst others Secretaries to the Local Government of Lagos State.

In another development, the Secretary to Agege LGA, Hon. Gbenga Abiola has charged the youths to get involved in the politics of today and position themselves in the heart of the decision makers.

He added that, the nation building lies in the hands of capable, brilliant and intellectual youths that can write the glory of our dear nation in bold

EFCC Arrests Prison’s Staff, 5 Others for ATM Fraud

AgegePulse Magazine

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested six fraudsters who specialize in defrauding innocent Nigerians by using bank details obtained through sim swaps and Automated Teller Machines (ATM).



The suspects include Urulo Ikenna Henry, an Inspector with the Enugu Command of Nigerian Correctional Service. Others are Ugonna Nelson Owete, Ugonna Samuel Okafor Obinna, Chigbo Paschal Chidiebere, Oha Chukwujekwu Kingsley, Ahamefula Francis Izuchukwu



The suspects were arrested in separate operations, sequel to a petition by a customer of Access Bank, alleging that monies were illegally transferred from his account without his authorisation. According to the petitioner, sometime in February, 2019, he opened an account with Diamond Bank (now Access Bank) which he funded to the tune of N5m and instructed the bank to open a fixed deposit account, with the sum of N1m from the earlier account, as opening balance.



The complainant said he was receiving regular alerts until the end of March, 2019 when the alerts stopped coming, prompting him to demand his statement of account from the bank. Upon receipt of his bank statement, he discovered to his chagrin that the sum of two million nine hundred and eleven thousand four hundred and eighty naira (N2,911,480m) had fraudulently been transferred to several accounts between April 5 -9, 2019 without his authorisation..

Upon the receipt of the petition, the zonal office of the Commission  immediately swung into action and traced some of the funds to three of the suspects,  Samuel Okafor Obinna - N1,500.000; Chigbo Paschal Chidiebere -N210,000 and Oha Chukwujekwu Kingsley N300 000. All three were promptly arrested.

Further investigation revealed that Ikenna Henry, Nelson Owete (a known criminal who was earlier arrested and paraded by the Enugu State Police Command for  crimes bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery) and Ahamefula Francis Izuchukwu were equally complicit in the fraud.



They were arrested. Upon arrest, items recovered from Urulo Ikenna Henry included a Toyota Camry, documents of 2 plots of land, 2 Nigeria Housing Fund Passbook (one belonging to him and the other bearing Ani Wilfred Ochechukwu), 17 ATM cards of different banks bearing different names, 2 Nigerian Correctional Service Identity Cards, 2 smart phones and 2 Nokia phones, 1 NHIS card, 1 voter card, 26 Starter Packs and 15 SIM cards of various networks.

Two sachets of Cannabis Sativa, 8 ATM cards bearing different names and banks, 6 Starter Packs, and 4 SIM  cards of various networks, One empty ECOWAS Passport, 1 NDA dependant ID card and a voter card were also recovered from Francis Izuchukwu



The suspects will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Tinubu, Ethiopian Prime Minister win democracy award

 AgegePulse Magazine

Samson Folarin

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, have won the African Democracy Award.

A statement on Tuesday said they were recognised for their efforts to grow democracy and good governance on the African continent.

According to the statement, the award was conferred on them at the 4th African Political Summit and Diamond Awards in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The award was said to be the highlight of a three-day conference on Campaign Financing and Elections in Africa, an initiative of the Association of Political Consultants, Africa.

The body is made up of top political consultants from across the continent.

The award, according to the president of APC Africa, Kehinde Bamigbetan, “serves to recognise and encourage icons of democracy and good governance in Africa. It has been our culture to celebrate those political figures who have done a lot to promote democracy in their respective countries.”

He described Ahmed as an outstanding leader who had done a lot to strengthen democracy, human rights, press freedom and peace in East Africa.


Bamigbetan said Tinubu was recognised for his commitment to democracy and human rights.

“Asiwaju is a political figure whose impacts have been felt not just in Nigeria, especially with the historic election of President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the opposition APC, but also across many countries in Africa,” he added.

Punch

BLACK SPOTS: LAGOS TASK FORCE NABS 71 MISCREANTS IN OSHODI

AgegePulse Magazine

The operatives of the Lagos State Task Force have arrested another 71 miscreants around railway-line in Oshodi as part of efforts to rid the State of all criminal elements, especially those operating at notorious blackspots across the metropolis.

The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who led the enforcement team in an early morning raid, stated that the crackdown is in line with the determination of the Task Force to curtail the activities of hoodlums who rob unsuspecting members of the public.

He disclosed that some of those arrested were in possession of suspected illegal substances (Indian hemp) and other dangerous drugs such as Codeine, Skunk and Tramadol.

The Chairman reiterated that all identified blackspots across the State would be continuously raided and arrested suspects would be fully prosecuted if found guilty, stressing that the present administration has zero-tolerance for all forms of crimes and criminality.

According to CSP Egbeyemi, "Lagos State is the most populous in Nigeria as well as its economic heartbeat. As such, the State government is committed to providing a conducive environment for both local and foreign investors”.

He, however, revealed that while 13 of all the arrested 71 suspects were released after a thoroughly screening by the Chairman. The only underage male among them was transferred to the Lagos State Correctional Centre for proper rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Zubairu Muazu has directed that the raid must be a continuous exercise in line with the State's policy aimed at eradicating activities of miscreants and cultists disturbing innocent residents.

An underage boy (Hamed Gilani) who was referred to Lagos State Correctional Centre disclosed that he ran to Lagos from one of the neighbouring State after his parents separated their ways (divorced).

Accoding to Hamed Gilani (11yrs)"I ran errand for those bigger miscreants and i was lured to be smoking Indian hemp when i started sleeping among them under the bridge at Oshodi"

Another arrested miscreant (Suraju Ademola) confessed to have been sleeping along railway line under the Oshodi bridge for over 7 months.

He confessed further to be part of those criminals who attacked and robbed innocent members of the public of their valuables on Oshodi bridge both early morning and night.