The Ondo State Police Command said it has arrested a driver who crushed a policeman to death at a checkpoint along the Benin-Owo Expressway at the Ifon area of Ose Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.
According to the police, the driver whose identity was yet to be revealed allegedly hit the cop who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, and was arrested by the men of the Nigeria Army at Sobe in Edo State.
The command denied an earlier report that the cop was killed by some suspected kidnappers on the expressway.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the death of the police officer, declared that it was a case of hit and run, not kidnapping.
She said, “A suspected vehicle, while the police were trying to stop the driver, he didn’t stop. So, our officers were alerted on the highway but on getting to a particular place around ifon, the driver swerved and hit an ASP and the officer died immediately.
“The driver, was, however, pursued and fortunately for us he (driver) was arrested by the military men at Sobe in Edo State”
A 53-second viral video showed the scene of the incident and the deceased lying on the road. He was also seen with a head injury while his colleagues carried his lifeless body into a police van parked on the road.
I went to Òkehò few days ago to carry out some community development assignments in Okeho, Ilero, Isemi, Ìgànná and Otu. But, I didn’t go with my car because it was not economical given the many places I had in mind to touch which I wasn’t able to even estimate how many litres of fuel it will cost me at a glance before I embarked on the journey vis-a-vis the current cost of fuel.
So, I relied on Okada as a means of transportation to go to all the places I went because there are no taxis, Uber or public cab in most towns in Òkèògùn due to the poor and unviable economic condition of our region in favour of such business.
In fact, I had to do my inter-town itineraries with the same mode of transportation because it used to take long hours before the commuter vehicles are filled up with passengers in nearly all motor parks.
Now, my rough estimation has confirmed that it must have been almost 30 years ago that I went from Òkehò to Ìgànná through Ìfò-erè/Akọ̀kọ̀ axis because of many years of abandonment of that road due to the terrible state of that road which kept deteriorating over the years.
Without any attempt at exaggerating the condition, all I can say is that it worse than a death-trap. It is not only that it is impassable to any car no matter how rugged it is, it is also because it has cut off many communities from the mainstream of socio-political and economic developmental activities as this same road is the road that connects Nigeria with all the Ecowas countries like Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and others on that axis.
Intermittently, the few trucks that have been managing to pass through this road have become so accustomed or, let me say, so addicted to the road that they might experience serious convulsion if they don’t pass through the road per day.
In the word of our people, such few vehicles that are still crawling on this road fall within the category of vehicles they often describe as “ọwọ́ èèbó ti kúrò lára rẹ̀” which can be interpreted to mean that the repair of a given vehicle is no longer within the maintenance purview or jurisdiction of the original manufacturer, but a special indigenous mechatronic repairers due to several mismanagement.
So, when I passed through the road to fulfill an important appointment that I didn’t want to miss with a community leader for 7.00am early in the morning of Saturday July 22, 2023, I kept wondering why people still refer to to Ìfò-erè/Akọkọ̀ jungle as a road leading to any town because it was obvious there is no road, not because “men are at work”, but because “men are not at work”!
Well, may be, for want of words, those who are regarding Òkehò-Ìgànná as a road are trying to make faith pronouncement that they believe that, one day very soon, either the government of Ọ̀yọ́ State or the federal government would be gripped with compassion and moved with a bowel of mercy on the many communities and people of this axis Nigeria who have entered a serious lamentation mode like the Biblical Jeremiah.
But, on a very serious note and if truth must be spoken, it is evidently glaring that there is no road from Ìsàlẹ̀ Alúbọ area of Òkehò to Ìgànná, an ancient town which, today, is the headquarter of Ìgànná Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
Furthermore, it is good to add that the few trucks that still pass through that road which I mentioned above are going there to carry farm produce because that axis is also where the majority of the farm settlements of Òkehò people reside. No wonder food items are costlier in Òkehò than the neighboring towns because there are no supplies of farm produce direct from farmers to retail buyers like in other towns. Instead, Òkehò traders often go to buy food items from other neigbouring markets to resell in their markets.
Finally, time has been far-spent and many generations of people have come and gone while the new ones of yesterday have also become old and are passing away, there have been sunsets and sunrises and people are counting tick tick tick every moment, everyday, every week, every month, year and decade, Òkehò-Ìgànná has remained the same. Now, on behalf of the good people of Òkehò, Ẹlẹ́kòkan, Ẹ̀bì, Ìṣerin, Ìgànná, Ìwéré’lé, Ìtasá, Ìdìkó’lé, Ìdìkó-àgọ́, Ìjìó, Ayégun and all the farm settlements that I don’t remember to mention, I plead again that government should do all within its power to fix this road within the shortest possible time to open up the great human, natural and material potentials of this part of Nigeria.
The University College Hospital, Ibadan has debunked the recent news publication that it has commenced recruitment exercise.
UCH made the clarification today in a statement signed and sent to ODUDUWA NEWS by its Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi as read in part:
“The attention of the management of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, has been drawn to a purported advertisement for employment published through an unauthorised website on behalf of the hospital.
“We wish to state in unambiguous terms that the hospital has neither placed any advertisement for employment nor engaged the services of ANY AGENCY for the purpose of recruitment for jobs on behalf of the hospital.
“The general public is hereby advised to ignore the advertisement. Any one dealing with the purported advertisers does so at their own risk. The hospital will not be liable for any consequences arising from this unauthorised advertisement.
“The UCH has recognised formal channels for placement of advertisements through national dailies and its website”.
Aftermath of the heavy downpour today in Lagos have caused two young boys Gbolahan and Yinka Atolagbe age Seven and Nine respectively to lost their lives in Alao Street, Ikorodu Area of Lagos State, Nigeria.
Bencity Times gathered that, a single storey (Hotel fence) at 38, community road collapsed and fell on a three bed room bungalow where the boys resides.
Further investigation revealed that the said building fence was weakened by poor drainage resulting in its collapse on the house at No 25 Alao street.
The deceased has been büried according to Islamic rite.
Following long hours of rainfall on Saturday morning, some parts of Ikire town, the headquarters of Irewole local government area of Osun State have been submerged.
Properties worth millions of Naira were also destroyed as a result of the flood that accompanied the heavy downpour.
Residents disclosed to newsmen that the rain started early on Saturday morning around 8am and lasted until afternoon.
Parts of the town affected included Oja-Ale, Atoto, Fulani, Mateba, UNIOSUN Road, Campus area and the popular Naira and Kobo junction along the Ife-Ibadan expressway.
A student of the Osun State University, UNIOSUN, Onigbinde Michael who spoke to newsmen in a phone conversation on Saturday said shops, residential houses, farmlands, and livestock were badly affected and that he could not quantify the level of loss.
“More than 100 residents have been affected. In the affected areas of Ikire, you will observe residents scooping water out of their houses and shops.
“Some of them are even trapped in their building with no help in sight. Some even came out and saved some trapped victims from drowning.
“The case is pathetic.”
Reacting to the flood incident in Ikire on Saturday, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke directed the Commissioner for Environment to fast-track flood prevention measures.
In a statement signed by his Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Saturday, Adeleke expressed sympathy over the flood disaster.
The governor revealed that the flood wreaked havoc on the western part of the state and assured the people that his administration will address the root cause of the flood, forestall future occurrences and fast-track the state’s flood prevention plan.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin has revealed that he has directed personnel of the Ministry to quickly find a temporary solution to combat the flood.
The National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, prevail on the management of various federal universities in the country to jettison their plans to increase school fees and levies being paid by the students.
The students’ body warned that should this call be ignored and schools hike their fees and want to enforce implementation, the students would embark on nationwide protest and remain on the streets till their demand is met.
NANS made this call in a statement made available by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Giwa Temitope on Saturday.
According to NANS, the increment of school fees by UNILAG, Akoka, as announced on Friday, and the planned increment by other federal universities across the country and even for the federal government colleges, have shown that the current administration is insensitive to the plights of most Nigerians, who are going through difficult times.
The association said, “It is most ridiculous that government will be introducing fees increment without thinking of rescuing the over 133 million Nigerians out of multi-dimensional poverty they are in.
“To us, increment in school fees will complicate the poverty conditions of most parents and students and also increase the number of out-of-school children in the country.
“Before now, some students couldn’t afford the fees and various other levies and because of that, dropped out of school and what would now happen to students, who are sponsoring themselves and their parents, who have more than one child in school?
“Our demand therefore is clear and simple and that is to tell all schools with the decision to increase their fees to suspend such plan and those that have already announced theirs to reverse it with immediate effect.
“Otherwise, we will embark on an all-round protest that will last till the Federal Government reverses the policy.”
Six persons were said to have died after drinking local gin allegedly served by a friend in Ogbogbo community, Ijebu-North East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred on Tuesday, at a joint where seven friends had gathered for merry-making.
It was learnt that all the six persons who drank the alcohol died, except the man who supplied the drink from his house and did not drink from it.
Locals disclosed that the six dead persons and the suspect had earlier engaged in an argument, which was later settled.
To reconcile with his friends, the suspect reportedly donated the local gin, a bottle of which he reportedly went home to fetch.
ODUDUWA NEWS learnt that a few hours after they had the friends had departed to their various destinations, news filtered in that two of the friends died while four others were hospitalised.
The source added that “the other four persons died the following day. Six people have been confirmed dead. The whereabouts of the man who brought the alcohol is yet to be known.”
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Omolola Odutola confirmed the incident.
“I just confirmed something like that occurred, but the families said they are not pressing charges and prefer to bury their dead,” she stated.
Ibadan based Prankster, Abdullahi Maruff Adisa popularly called TrinityGuy has been released on Bail after spending almost 4 weeks in Agodi Prison over viral skit video with a minor.
Trinityguy was ordered to be sent to Agodi Prison on 26th of June by Iyaganku Magistrate Court, Ibadan Oyo State.
Although Trinityguy’s legal battles are far from over, his release on bail will give him the opportunity to attend his Court Case from home.
The Ondo State Government has procured eight state-of-the-art firefighting equipment to combat the menace of fire outbreaks in the State.
The fire trucks will be deployed across the three senatorial districts of the State to ensure efficient coverage.
The state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, had approved the procurement of these modern firefighting equipment as part of his commitment to enhance the fire service’s capabilities in handling emergencies within the state.
During a meeting in August 2022, where he received Mr. James Olatunji, the Zonal Commander of the Federal Fire Service overseeing Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun states, Governor Akeredolu assured that the government would procure advanced firefighting equipment.
Each of the newly acquired firefighting trucks has a two-row cabin with air conditioning, equipped with a WD615.69, 336HP, Euro II engine, and a HW19710 transmission with 10 forward gears and 2 reverse gears. The trucks also feature a HF7 front axle with a capacity of 17,000kg, drum type, and a ST16 rear axle with 216,000kg, drum type. They are fitted with 315/80R22.5 tubeless tires, 11 in total, including a spare tire, and a 400L fuel tank.
Furthermore, the Fire Tankers possess impressive 10,000-liter water and 2,000-liter foam capacities, accompanied by state-of-the-art equipment to tackle fires effectively and efficiently.
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin , was present at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, to receive the equipment on behalf of the Governor.
With these modern firefighting trucks now in place, the people of Ondo State can be rest assured that their safety is prioritised and the firefighting force is well-equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to any fire incidents that may arise.
Popular Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, known by his stage name Baba Ijesha, has completed one year of his 16-year prison sentence.
His crime, child defilement, landed him in the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri, Lagos State.
Baba Ijesha was convicted and sentenced on July 14, 2022, for four of the six charges levelled against him, including indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration, and sexual assault by penetration.
The actor was first arrested on April 22, 2021, and later appeared before Magistrate P.E. Nwaka of the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos on July 16, 2021.
Subsequently, he was charged in the Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, where Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo delivered the final judgment.
She found the defendant guilty on four of the six counts, announcing, “The defendant is hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment for count two, three years for count three, five years for count four, and three years for count five.”
The high-profile case drew national attention and sparked controversy, dividing the entertainment industry. Some celebrities sided with comedian Princess Adekoya, the custodian of the child involved in the case.
In contrast, others expressed sympathy for Baba Ijesha.
Among those supporting Baba Ijesha were Yomi Fabiyi, Bukky Black, and Lege Miami, with Fabiyi claiming that the actor was ‘ambushed’ into the crime.
On the other hand, actresses Iyabo Ojo and Nkechi Blessing were among the strong supporters of Princess.
Fabiyi in an interview with Punch said, “First, it is difficult for me to deny knowing him. My non-governmental organisation decided to hear his side and do our own little investigation, and what we found out required us to give him a voice, as it looked like he was ‘ambushed into that misfortune’.
“There were too many questions begging for answers.
