Four persons have been killed and others sustained gunshot injuries in various cult clashes in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Police authorities in the wake of the development arrested eleven suspects in connection with the violent clashes.
They were killed at different locations in Abeokuta, the state capital, at the weekend when members of rival cult groups engaged one another.
The spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command Omolola Odutola confirmed the development to Channels Television. Those who died included: members of Aye, Eiye, and Buccaneer confraternities.
The clash started on Thursday when a suspected leader of the Eiye confraternity, simply identified as Dare was shot dead in front of his house in the Ijeja area of the Abeokuta metropolis in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the state
An eyewitness said that Dare, who was popularly known as Oloba, was shot dead on Thursday evening by suspected members of Buccaneer Confraternity.
The police spokesman said one Seun Elewode, a member of the Aye cult group, was killed during a shootout between rival cult groups in the Adeun area of Lafenwa, Abeokuta.
Iseyin town witnessed a rancour on Friday at the Sagbo central mosque in Iseyin, Oyo state, as some aggrieved alfas fought dirty over attempted efforts to “remove the imam”, leading to the mosque being eventually sealed off.
It took the proactive intervention of the vigilante group who stormed the mosque to prevent what could have resulted in injuries and disruption of peace and order.
News reports obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS from Daily Insider gathered that the fight broke up during the Jimoh service on Friday, February 2, when some alfas antagonised the imam (mosque leader) and levelled some allegations against him.
Efforts to resolve the differences amicably were abortive, resulting in physical attacks as the alfas and congregation descended into a showdown with one another.
Witnesses who spoke to this publication said the fracas peaked to the point of unrest that sachets of water and other dangerous items were thrown amid curses and anger.
A resident of the area, identified as Mumeen, described the fight as “embarrassing.” He added that if not for the intervention of community security, it would have been messier.
Efforts by newsmen to speak to the head of the vigilante security group that cordoned off the mosque, Ajayi, failed as he was not available to respond to our inquiries.
His second in command, who does not want his name mentioned, told this publication that the atmosphere was intense as the face-off worsened despite attempts to persuade the aggrieved parties.
“Such thuggery exhibited last week should not be seen in anyone who calls himself alfa. Things would have gotten worse if not for our presence,” he lamented.
Islamic leaders intervene An Islamic cleric who does not want his name mentioned confided in this publication that the matter has been brought before the league of Imams and Alfas in Iseyin
He assured that the mosque would be opened before Friday, February 9, adding that the attention of Chief Imam of Iseyin, Sheikh Abdul Hakeem Olajori, has been brought to it and other senior Islamic leaders in Iseyin town.
“I was there when it happened. But I cannot say much because I am not a leader in the mosque. But I can assure you that the matter has been channelled to the appropriate people. Peace will come,” he said.
As of the time of the report, no one is permitted to observe prayers inside the mosque as all doors are under lock and key.
The popular Nollywood actress and socialite, Lizzy Anjorin who has been in the news in recent times on series of controversial issues has debunked her alleged involvement in the allegation leveled against her that she stole N91,000 worth of gold necklace at Lagos market.
In a viral video obtained by Oduduwa News yesterday, observed a crowd of market women chanting “ole ole” on the actress claiming she did fake transfer of N91k worth of gold necklace.
While she was recounting her ordeal, she claimed that the viral video was a set up by her rival in the movie industry, Iyabo Ojo.
She said she never stole any gold necklace nor did a fake transfer as claimed in the viral video.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has assured that hard times being faced by Nigerians will soon come to an end with the right policies of the Federal Government.
The President’s wife gave the assurance on Monday in the State House during a meeting with Governors Wives on her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
She assured that the year 2024 “is loaded with peace, progress, prosperity and greater achievements’’ to the advantage of all Nigerians.
Mrs Tinubu commended the governors’ wives for their efforts and supports in year 2023, urging them not to relent in addressing the needs of the vulnerable in their states.
“Times like this call for sober reflection, hence, all hands must be on deck. Moreover, the hardship situation is temporary, it will soon fade away.
“The mission of the RHI is driven by my office to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Tinubu,’’ she said.
She said Women Agricultural Support Programme (WASP), under RHI, will empower 20 farmers each, from five states in the South East Zone.
“These farmers will get N500,000 each and a total draft of N10m will be given to five RHI states’ coordinators as the case may be.
“The National Agricultural Land Development Authority in partnership with the RHI will support an additional 80 female farmers from each state with the provision of training and capacity building and agricultural inputs.
“We will buy-off all produce from the farms after harvest,’’ she said.
Mrs. Tinubu said she would soon launch “Young Farmers Club’’ in public schools across the nation to encourage farming among young population.
She said schools with the best farms would be identified, and prizes would be given to them, ranging from school renovations, equipping of school science laboratories, provision of ICT equipment and upgrading of school libraries.
On the programme, “Every Home a Garden’’ competition, the first lady said the overall best garden owner will win the sum of N20m by December.
She urged the governors’ wives to update her on the progress made on the programme.
According to the First Lady, other areas of focus in RHI included, economic empowerment, health and social investment.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex(OAUTHC), Prof. John Okeniyi, has stated that the waiver to recruit a total of 450 fresh into clinical and non-clinical position was obtained from the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation(OHCSF).
Okeniyi made the disclosure during the online Press Conference on Friday, in Ile-Ife.
He said that the approved waiver was meant to recruit 41 non-clinical and 409 clinical staff into specific cadres.
According to him, the then authorities of the hospital conducted the recruitment exercise in two phases, 230 and 220 respectively.
“But instead of first 230, the then administrators recruited over 600 without due process and most of them were non-clinical posts not.
“During the second phase, instead of (220) recruitments,1,823 staff were appointed, with total number of 2,423, letters of employment given in various cadres instead 450 as approved by the Federal Government”. He explained.
The CMD expressed that 1,973 were victims of this industrial-scale illegal recruitment and they are not clinical personnel whose services were not requested nor required.
According to him, none of them were interviewed, but screening conducted by immediate past acting administration, with no valid application.
“Majority of them did not submit curriculum vitae, many were discovered not to possess the necessary basic qualifications or satisfy the requirements of the National Youth Service Corps.
“A considerable number have attested to being either sponsored, recipients of slots, political patronage or secured the posts by payments of huge sums of money.
” In some instances, the abuse of the dignity of womanhood and dehumanization through sexual favours occurred.Someof these facts were hitherto in the public domain”.Okeniyi condemned.
The Chief Medical Director stated that many were captured and payrolled on the various government financial platforms such as IPPIS and GIFMIS despite the illegal recruitments.
He adding that this has been detrimental to the capturing, retention,and payment of the critically needed clinical staff for whom the waiver was meant for in the first instance.
The CMD noted that all these illegal recruitments and job racketeering were done before his appointed as the substantive Chief Medical Director of the Hospital after months of protracted leadership crisis.
He said that Acting Chief Medical Director, Acting Director of Administration Head of Establishment that were found to be culpable were suspended by the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.
“The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health directed the Hospital Management to convene a Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee to deal with and dispose of all cases of illegal recruitment and job racketeering.
“Ministry of Health, directed the Management to enforce compliance to the waiver granted by cleaning the nominal roll and ensuring that persons who had been captured and employed under the 2022 waivers pay-rolled, captured on IPPIS platform.
“And should be made to undergo rigorous suitability competency test to determine their suitability in line with the OHCSF 2022 June waiver, while cadres not captured under waiver should be exited from the services of the Hospital.
“The current Hospital Management is very altruistic and responsible and would continue to act in tandem with the directive and instruction of the supervising Ministry of Health & Social Welfare” .He quoted.
Okeniyi promised to work collaboratively with all stakeholders,to ensure that the Hospital continues to deliver quality Healthcare services to the populace among the leagues of Federal Teaching Hospitals (FTHIs) across the country.
The CMD appealed to the Public to realise that OAUTHC Management is in no position to pay, employ or sack while illegally recruited persons without authorization.
He condemned the illegality of the 2022 recruitments and job racketeering perpetrated by a few staff which has tainted the public image of the highly industrious and patriotic staff, vibrant Hospital, the Federal Ministry,and the Federal Government.
Okeniyi charged the affected people to take it easy and believed that God will make a way out for them and desist from threatening death to Officers, Staff,and patients.
The CMD said that his administration would refund any amounts spent to procure medical screening tests after they were given letters of employment.
He admonished all members of staff, visitors, patients, clients, and members of the public to maintain decorum and civility as they transact their activities lawfully,within and around the Hospital.
Okeniyi called for assistance of all people of influence and law-enforcement agents remains helpful in calming the inflamed situation and we seek all concerned to exercise restraint.
The Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday paraded three police officers who had been subjected to orderly room trial for alleged involvement in armed robbery in Ijebu-Ode after which they were dismissed and would soon be charged to court.
The dismissed officers are Inspector Taiwo Kolawole with Force Number AP/No 341113, Inspector John Ogbe with Force Number AP/No 309292 and Cpl Idowu Sunday with Force Number 513707.
All the officers were attached to Ijebu-Ife Division, in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.
Background:
On 12/01/2024, at about 0845hrs, one Kashimao Emmanuel ‘m’ of TASUED Ijebu-Ode, reported at the station that while he was driving in his Toyota Venza car, with Reg No. LSD 813 EX brown in colour, that he came across a gang of four armed men and one of them was putting on a Police round neck camouflage, while 3 others were on mufti.
They demanded for his phone, which he calmly declined. In the process, one of them fired a shot into the air and that was when he complied.
They entered into his car and took him away towards Sagamu expressway, on getting to Ososa, they made a u-turn to Ijebu-Ode, where a sum of three hundred and twelve thousand naira was forcefully transferred from his account to an Opay account no. 9097829766.
Upon the receipt of the report, the DPO quickly made a call to the Opay account number where it was discovered that the Opay account number belongs to a POS operator in Ijebu-ode.
The DPO then gave instruction that on no account should the POS operator give out the money transferred to him to anyone who comes for it. Moreso, the operator should tactically delay anyone who comes for the money pending his arrival.
On getting to the POS shop at Ibadan garage, one Force No 513707 Cpl Idowu Sunday attached to Ijebu-Ife was met waiting to cash the money and was promptly arrested.
While taking him to the station, he sighted his accomplices, namely AP/No 341113 Inspector Taiwo Kolawole, AP/No 309292 Inspector John Ogbe both were attached Ijebu-Ife division, and one civilian, Adesiyan Mathew who happened to be the driver was also arrested.
In the course of investigation, two other complainants who were victims at various times came forward and identified them to have earlier robbed them of their belongings in the same manner.
Fiery Enugu priest, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday, tackled the President Bola Tibubu administration over the level of insecurity and hardship in Nigeria.
Mbaka, who said there were many obstacles on Tinubu’s way to becoming the president, including the Naira redesign policy, said he succeeded by an act of providence.
He, however, said the president was yet to exhibit political will towards solving the country’s problems.
He singled out corruption in the oil sector, which he said was under a certain cabal, but regretted that President Tinubu was yet to go against them.
The charismatic priest said these while delivering a homily at his Adoration Ministry in Emene, Enugu State.
He asked the President to wake up, stressing that God was watching him.
“Mr President, you can do it; to fix Nigeria is not difficult if the leader has the will power.
“I know that this one will make national news but let it be.
“What is happening in the oil sector? How many barrels are being produced and how many dollars are in the Nigerian account?
“A country like Nigeria that exports millions of barrels of oil per month, how much are we saving?
“Why is it difficult up till now to fix other refineries? Who are the cabals? Can’t they be de-canibalized? Cabals can be de-canibalized if the president has the will power; hell will not fall, heaven will not fall.
“These people can go to jail; after all, many of them did not support you; so why are you protecting them? Mr President, wake up, God is watching you to see what you can do,” Mbaka said amid cheers from his parishioners.
He went further to say that the citizens were all heartbroken, urging the president to fix things fast.
According to him, “Our hearts are broken; go to our schools, see how messy the government schools are; are we taking care of our teachers and our doctors? Look at how they are- when they travel abroad, they begin to mine money in pounds and dollars.
“Teachers once they retire, no gratuity, no pension; the hearts of the retirees are broken; let there be a law that will bring solution to all these maladies.
“Heartbreak everywhere, look at our police and military, their hearts are also broken; what kind of guns are the policemen using? When the senior squad passes, they will kill the policemen on the watchpost and carry their guns and run away. What happens to their families when their husbands die on the duty post?
“No compensation; the next one minute, they chase them out of the barrack; those who are in Borno forest fighting Boko Haram, what is happening to their families at home? Who is taking care of them?
“The hearts of their family members are broken, shattered; they are fighting those with bombs with catapult; those people they are fighting are carrying launchers;
“How many young men have we buried and still burying; insecurity everywhere.”
The Catholic priest also warned that a higher wave of hunger was underway in the country if insecurity was not dealt with.
He said, “We are asking people to go to the farm and produce; but if you enter the farm, herdsmen with AK-47 will enter the farm and kill the farmers, who will go to the farm anymore?
“Hunger, as I told you last two years, has not even started; I won’t tell you lies; everybody should be meaningfully engaged, start something.
“In Nkerefi last time, about six women who were farming were killed and their stomachs brought out; who will go to the farm there again? The fear is there.
“Even politicians who think they are safe in their comfort zone, you are not safe because the level of insecurity will come to your doorstep one day.”
Turning again to Presdent Tinubu, Mbaka said, “I know that this man that has come to be the president of the country if he submits himself to God, with enough will power, God has blessed him in wealth, he has not come as a beggar, like many politicians who failed election and they almost committed suicide because they used all they have to do election.
“Jagaban is not a poor man; so he can do something extraordinary; do it the other way round; shock all these people who are criminals; devise a policy that will bring security, bring joy to the Nigerian people and you will see there will begin to be a meaningful transformation.
“Look at the bank of today giving people loans with interest of 25 per cent, some 26, some 27, how can you pay back? With which collateral?
“So, what’s the hope of the youths? All they need is encouragement, empowerment and support. Nigeria will be better than China; we can Dubanize Nigeria; The youths are waiting for the healing of their broken hearts.”
Lagos Reporters recalls that Fr Mbaka has given several controversial prophecies in the past, including his famous ‘From Goodluck to Badluck’ message which was targeted at then president Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) was the messiah Nigerians were waiting for.
Buhari later went on to defeat incumbent Jonathan in the 2015 election.
However, Mbaka later fell out with the Buhari presidency, with the latter accusing him of begging for contracts.
He also at some point came hard on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, during the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, describing him as a stingy man.
Atiku Abubakar has berated President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, saying the policies creating pains for the poor
This was contained in a statement made available today via his official Twitter handle as read in part:
“The economy’s performance has, in recent weeks and months, been a subject of intense discourse among Nigerian citizens at home and abroad. Nigerians are gravely concerned, and rightly so, that Tinubu’s poor response to Nigeria’s economic challenges is setting the stage for a prolonged and deeper domestic economic crisis.
“His economic policies, drawn from a so-called renewed hope agenda, are ironically dashing hopes, creating pain and causing despair. The private sector is shrinking by the day as small businesses are emasculated and as Multi-National Companies, confused and weary of the economy, leave Nigeria in droves. The intense cost of living pressures has created more misery for the poor in towns and villages. There is HUNGER IN THE LAND as basic commodities, including BREAD, are becoming out of reach for average Nigerians.
“His 2024 budget is a business-as-usual exercise, bereft of concrete ideas and actions that would support Nigeria’s journey toward economic transformation—consisting mainly of wasteful expenditures to cater to a bloated Federal Government. Budget 2024 will not facilitate growth and cannot empower our citizens to earn a living and live a decent life.
“BAT has shown no capacity to deal with the adverse and disastrous impact of the new subsidy regime on the people and businesses and the new foreign exchange policy, which provides for a free-floating exchange rate. His initiatives are literally uninformed, arbitrary, and chaotic. BAT’s palliatives are too mean, pitiable, and contemptuous of the poor. He seems genuinely lost, bewildered, and overwhelmed.
“To mask their failures, BAT and his political appointees are busy blaming his predecessor in office for bequeathing a ‘dead’ economy. This is a familiar game popularised by former President Buhari while in office. It reinforces what we already know: that BAT came into office unprepared.
“Tinubu and his economic management team must swallow their pride, admit their missteps and failures, and follow those who know the terrain. They must act fast before the economy sinks deeper into the abyss.
School children of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State and their teachers, who were recently kidnapped by armed men have been released.
Oduduwa News cannot ascertain at the moment if the victims who regained freedom at about 2.00 am on Sunday were rescued by security operatives or released after payment of ransom.
But the abductors had demanded N100 million for the release of the victims, which was not paid earlier prompting rumours that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the pupils.
The children and their teachers were abducted by the assailants on Monday evening.
Unconfirmed reports emerged on Saturday stating that the victims had been released but the police swiftly debunked the report.
However, in a short video clip being circulated on Sunday morning, the freed pupils and their teachers were sighted sitting on the floor, looking tired.
There is a heavy presence of security operatives and men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Saki West State Constituency where INEC is conducting a rerun election.
The rerun election is holding at polling unit 007 Odo Osun and polling unit 019 Ogbalanja in the constituency.
Officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen manning the two polling units.
EFCC officials were seen at strategic locations around the polling units nosing for politicians and members of the electorate who might get involved in vote-selling or vote-buying.
Also, men of the Nigerian Army were on patrol in the entire constituency.
The voter registers at polling unit 007 and 019 indicate that a total of 754 and 547 voters respectively are expected to vote at the two polling units.
Presence of agents of the two main contending political parties —- APC and PDP —- were also noticed at the two polling units.
