Category: Featured

BUHARI, TINUBU, MO IBRAHIM, FASHOLA, ADESINA, OKONJO-IWEALA TO SPEAK AT EHINGBETI NEXT WEEK

Ehingbeti, the Lagos Economic Summit scheduled to hold from next Tuesday to Thursday, is living-up to its repute as Africa’s most practical and result-oriented private sector-led forum for socio-economic and infrastructural development, with the quality of speakers confirmed to discuss at the virtual summit.

Themed ‘For a Greater Lagos: Setting The Tone For The Next Decade’, Ehingbeti 2021 has drawn about 150 speakers from across the world to discuss and deliberate on pragmatic optimization of the inherent opportunities in Africa’s 5th largest economy and offer perspectives on how to manage the peculiar socio-economic landscape of Lagos State in the coming decade.

Leading the array of speakers at the summit are Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Ben Akabueze, Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Minister of Finance, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President, African Development Bank (ADB), Amina Mohammed UN Deputy Secretary General and Mohammed Yahaya, UNDP Resident Representative.

While President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State and Catriona Laing, British Higher Commissioner to Nigeria will give Goodwill Messages, the Summit opening address will be delivered by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor and Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly will lead the session on strengthening Governance, Institution and Legislation.

Other speakers at summit include Jordi Borrut Bel, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Prof. Pat Utomi, Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof. Yinka David-West, Academic Director, Lagos Business School, Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni, DG NACCIMA, Muda Yusuf, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Mo Abudu, Founder, Ebony Life TV, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder, Terra Culture, Miss Ojoma Ochai. Director, Creative Arts (West Africa), British Africa and others.

The 3-day summit, which is structured into segments, will have subject experts speak on specific themes such as “Destination Lagos: Becoming the World’s Best Investment Destination”, “Eko to the World: Shaping the Future of Trade and Economic Independence”, “Lagos, the Industrial Hub”, “Made in Lagos: Shaping the Future of Media, Entertainment, Culture and Tourism”, “Security, Law and Order (Balancing Regulation and Economic Growth)” and Citizens Participation in Governance”.

Themes to be discussed at the conference include “The Role of Transparency, Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability in Governance”, “4th Industrial Revolution: The imperatives and prospects for Digital Economy”, “Digital Transformation for Smart Cities”, “Unleashing Disruptive Innovation for Development”, Shaping the Future of Governance with Technology” and Roadmap to Shared Prosperity – Ensuring Inclusive Human Development”.

“Our realities from 2000 when the first Ehingbeti held, exactly 20 years ago, have significantly changed. As a state, we now have to cater to the infrastructural needs of more than 22million population and ensure that Lagos remains on the path of continuous growth” said Sam Egube, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget and Co-Chair of Ehingbeti.

“These considerations are the groundwork of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration THEMES Agenda, but translating the agenda to benefits for our people will require collaborations amongst stakeholders, and a determination to deepen the foundation for sustainable development and growth of our society. So, Ehingbeti 2020 offers us a platform to address all these”, concluded Egube.

Ehingbeti is an ingenuous socio-economic apparatus that has contributed significantly to the evolution of Lagos State into a major economy in sub-Saharan Africa and an admirable megacity, with expanding potentials. As a public-private sector roundtable that started as a collaborative effort between Lagos State Government and Business Club Ikeja, Ehingbeti has been hosted by successive governments in Lagos State since the beginning of the 4th republic.

The State Government has declared a 24-hour curfew in Irepodun and Orolu Local Government Areas of the State, following the violence that broke out between Ilobu and Erin-Osun communities on Saturday.

The declaration of curfew became necessary to douse tension in the troubled area. This will subsist until further notice.

This was made known today in a statement released by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji which reads in part:

“Recall that only about few hours ago, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola had ordered immediate deployment of armed policemen with support from the army to restore law and order.

“As a responsible and responsive government that took the sacred oath to protect the lives and property of our citizens, we believe that the declaration of curfew is the way to go in this circumstance.

“By this, security operatives have been directed to arrest and prosecute any person found violating the curfew and those responsible for the violence.

“All citizens and residents of the affected Local Government Areas are enjoined to comply with this directive as any person found contravening this order shall be made to face the wrath of the law.

“Government enjoins all our citizens to be peaceful and to be law abiding as all efforts shall be made to protect them and their property”.

…as Commission urges Muslims to embrace Hajj Savings Scheme

The Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, on Friday lauded the Government of the State of Osun for being the leading light and a pacesetter in the Hajj process in the country.

Hassan said Osun has been top-notch as far as Hajj is concerned in the last ten years as manifested in the huge success the State had recorded over the years.

NAHCON Chairman gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Governor’s office, Abere.

He said the Commission has been monitoring the sterling performance of the State in the last ten years, a motive he described as most impressive and commendable.

Hassan who led some members of staff of the Commission to Osun, described the visit as a familiarisation and advocacy visit to sensitise the Muslim community on the need to partake in the ongoing Hajj Savings Scheme.

According to him, the Hajj Savings Scheme was designed to support the intending Hajj pilgrims to actualise their dreams to seamlessly perform Hajj without financial hindrance.

“What we are saying is that governments do not have enough resources to be sponsoring people on pilgrimages. That is why we came up with the initiative called ‘Hajj Saving Scheme’ aimed at supporting intending pilgrims to actualise their dreams.

“With this scheme, intending Hajj pilgrims can save for as many years as they want till they realise whatever it costs to go to Hajj. They can save for as many as five to ten years. With this innovation, whatever the profit made through this saving system can also be used for investments.

“The concept is that every Muslim is a potential pilgrim. No matter the level of richness or poverty, all you need to do is to save. This has been successfully done in countries like Malaysia where people save for like ten to fifteen years.

“It is a thing we have to encourage. We need to encourage our people to embrace the idea. This is well-thought out and we believe that it will help the poor Muslims all over the country and correct the notion that one needs to sell his business before one goes to Hajj. One does not need to be indebted before one can go to Hajj.

“We are also working to digitalise the Hajj process in such a way that will enable massive participation and reach large people across the country. This is the only way to go because Hajj is a mono-product in Saudi Arabia.

“Osun in the last ten years has been top-notch as far as Hajj is concerned. The current management has been taking the battle and they are doing very fantastically well,” he added.

In his remarks, the Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola applauded Hassan for bringing innovation and modern technology to advance the operational scope of the Commission.

Oyetola who described the Hajj Savings Scheme as a welcome development and people-oriented initiative, said “with this scheme people can go to Hajj without unnecessary financial burden.

“I commend you for making Hajj more affordable for the people, particularly those at the grassroots. Setting up this Hajj Savings Scheme, is a commendable move as it will help the people to save enough to go to Hajj.

“I also commend the Commission for coming up with the idea of digitalising Hajj process in such a way that will be more accessible by the people from the comfort of their homes. To me, this innovation you are bringing on board will help to ensure proper management of all Muslim Ummah going on Hajj,” Oyetola added.

The Oyo State Government has installed a 300kva generator at the Scout Camp Neighborhood Business Complex Challenge in order to further make the market conducive for traders who are majorly farmers, to do business.

The government had earlier promised to put more infrastructural amenities in place for the market to thrive and discourage roadside trading at the market and others in the Ibadan metropolis.

The Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investments and Cooperatives, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi disclosed this on Wednesday at Ibadan, while inspecting the 300kva generator alongside the Commissioner for Energy, Barr. Seun Ashamu, stressing that the capacity of the generator was sufficient to power the whole market Complex.

Adebisi stated that the faulty two units of boreholes in the business complex had earlier been repaired by the Ministry, while the Ministry of Energy had also resolved the outstanding amount owed Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which led to the reconnection of the market to the national grid.

The Commissioner said the present administration has met all the requests presented to it by the traders and as such, enjoined traders selling by the road side along Challenge, Molete and Mobil axis to return to the Scout Camp Neighborhood Business Complex in order reciprocate the good gesture of the State government.

“Now that government has fulfilled its part in putting all necessary facilities in place to make trading conducive for them, what is next is for those trading by the roadside to go back to the market.

“This gesture has been extended to major markets in the metropolis and it is targeted at tackling the scourge of street trading.”

In his remark, the Commissioner for Energy, Barr. Seun Ashamu, disclosed that the Governor instructed that his Ministry should work alongside the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives ad well as the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to make the market condusive for commercial activities.

Ashamu assured the traders that the street light within the complex would be made functional within the next one week to enhance trading activities and security in the complex.

“Governor Seyi Makinde has, out of his interest for local economic growth, has instructed that everything that will make trading activities pleasant and attractive be made available for the traders.

“The street lights within the market will be repaired and will be functional in the next one week,” he assured.

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi has disclosed that Sunday Igboho would have been jailed by now if he had not gone to meet President Muhammad Buhari to appease to him to shelve his planned arrest of Sunday Igboho.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja 11) made the statement during hot exchange of words between him and Eselu of Iseluland, Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, over herdsmen’s reported attacks in several villages in Ogun State.

In an exclusive story on January 23, report had showed how herdsmen who were allegedly expelled for terrorizing Ketu-Yewa speaking communities in Ogun State were escorted back to the villages by soldiers from 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, with many of the affected villages in Oba Akinyemi’s domain.

Shortly after the report went viral, Oba Akinyemi had granted BBC Pidgin an interview on the incident, wherein he expressed his support for Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, who recently visited the monarch’s domain and urged other Yoruba Obas in the Southwest not to compromise the security of their subjects.

His comments, however, appeared not to go down well with the Ooni, who reacted by sending a WhatsApp message to Oba Akinyemi on Fridau morning, accusing the Oba of directing his remarks in the said interview at him because of his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, warning the Ogun monarch to be careful.

“Which other traditional rulers from our zone went to Abuja?” the Ooni queried.

“We all need to be careful not to be saying things that we are not there physically.

“The spirits of our ancestors and Oodua Land judge me if I went to Abuja to do otherwise to the cause of our land and also judge people that are saying things they don’t know…”

Responding, Oba Akinyemi said he was disappointed at the Ooni’s attack on him, urging him to live up to expectations as the leading monarch in Yorubaland.

Oba Akinyemi said: “Good morning, Kabiyesi, your imperial majesty.

“Kabiyesi, I hold you in high esteem and God and our ancestors know that.

“I don’t expect you to attack me in this manner. My expectations are for you to sympathise with me as one of your Obas and also your people in Yorubaland that were killed like goats by the Fulani strangers in your land.

“Kabiyesi, there is nowhere in the aforementioned interview that I mentioned that you collected money from Abuja, but I put cautions to all traditional rulers in Yorubaland as a wake-up call to all of us, including your good self, sir.

“Kabiyesi, you occupy the cradle of Yorubaland and I expect you to extend hands of fellowship to all of us.

“In a nutshell, Kabiyesi, you need to do more, and you owe me a delegation to come to us so they can report back to you how your children are being treated like slaves in Iselu…”

The Ooni again responded, asking Oba Akinyemi not to join others in spreading false information about his visit to Aso Rock.

He explained that his visit to Buhari had staved off some evil plans against Igboho, following the latter’s sacking of herdsmen from the Igangan area of Ibarapa, Oyo State.

Ooni said: “You cannot say you are more pained than me on all these matters as Arole Oduduwa.

“Our ancestors still live in spirit on this throne, and anybody that does negative things to the land will get the wrath of the spirit land (sic) of we Yorubas.

“You cannot be saying that (a) traditional ruler went to Abuja in the name of oil block to trade off his people.

“I am the ONLY one that went due to Covid-19 restrictions. Hear what you said now.

“Were you there when I discussed with Buhari? If I had not gone to speak the truth to power, do you have an idea of what was planned for Sunday (Igboho) and things that will happen afterward?

“Diplomacy is way better to resolve things than war, because even after the war that we all don’t pray for, you will still sit down to talk…

“Anyway, I hold my peace before you will turn it into something else again.

“Just to correct your wrong notion of going to solicit for oil block and co. It’s a lie.

“Please, I hold you in high esteem; don’t partake in false information. It’s not good spiritually.

“The spirits of our ancestors are alive and will surely fight the Yoruba cause. Peace be unto you.”

Oba Akinyemi, however, fired back, noting that the Ooni had been too cold to the plight of Yoruba people being attacked and killed by herders.

He said: “Your imperial majesty (Ooni), as long as I don’t want to disobey my paramount ruler, Olu (of) Ilaro, who advised me not to join issues with you, I won’t.

“But let me bust your brain that the issues today in Yorubaland that you happen to be the leader of all monarchs, things (have) fallen apart right under your nose.

“We are now in a state of oligarchy, racism, and totalitarianism.

“Maybe you don’t know you are not the only Oba that goes to the President in our zones, and I might not know them all because I am not the chief of staff to the President.

“And the issue of oil block you accused me of is not a statement credited to you alone but all of us in the Southwest because we have nowhere to call our ancestral home apart from here.

“Kabiyesi, I insist you need to do more. You are too cold at this present situation in your (Yoruba) land.

“But just like I said earlier on, send your delegations to come and report back to you the situation of things now in our land, maybe because you always watch CNN. But I will post some pictures to you now to see how your people are being slaughtered like rams. You need to wake up, Kabiyesi, Kabiyesi, Kabiyesi.”

Responding to Oba Akinyemi’s charge that he had been too cold to the plight of Yoruba people being attacked by herders, Oba Ogunwusi said he has a different style and approach to things.

He recalled that Ife people had contained the herders in 2017 during a bloody confrontation, saying: “Seeing all the pictures/docs sent to me before and long before it has been in our archive of proof.

“I really wonder which issue you want to take up with me that Olu Ilaro advised you against or where you have the notion that I only watch CNN.

“If you say I’m cold, thank you for the compliments/or otherwise. We all have our different styles and approach to things. What is critical is the end will always justify the means… Regards.

Oba Akinyemi told the Ooni to consider the lives of other people in the Southwest as important, sarcastically urging him to release Ife warriors to assist other Yoruba towns to ward off herdsmen.

It will be recalled that Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho recently criticized the Ooni in the wake of the monarch’s visit to President Buhari, following which he warned Igboho not to take the law into his hands.

In a viral video, Igboho accused the Ooni and other Yoruba leaders of failing to speak truth to power.

The ongoing membership registration exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo state was turned ugly, as party members engaged in a free-for-all over substitution of names.

According to newsmen, Party members, who were present at the centre in Oke-Ogun, said several persons were injured and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

A former council chairman in Oke-Ogun was also reportedly stripped naked and beaten by members of a rival party faction.

It would be noted that directives from Abuja have been issued for the dissolution of all factions like the late Senator Ajimobi faction (SENACO), Lam Adesina group, called Lamists; the African Democratic Party group, and the Peoples Democratic Party returnees to promote ones within the party.

However, a source who preferred anonymity, alleged that loyalists of the immediate past governor of Oyo, late Abiola Ajimobi, led by a former commissioner, attempted to substitute names of committee members, who are expected to supervise the registration exercise in all local government areas, with persons from other camps within the party.

He claimed that a former commissioner, who now leads the Ajimobi faction of the party (SENACO), removed names of members from the Lamists; the African Democratic Party group, and the Peoples Democratic Party returnees and replaced it with names of members from the SENACO group.

Meanwhile, when the state police public relations officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, was contacted for confirmation, he said the command has no knowledge of such incident.

Also, efforts to reach the Oyo APC director of media and strategy, Abdul-Azeez Olatunde, was not successful, but a prominent member of the party in the state, who also preferred not to be named, corroborate the earlier accusation.

The Northern Governors Forum has expressed displeasure over reports of attacks on herdsmen belonging to a particular ethnic group in some parts of the South East and South-West, resulting in loss of lives and property.
In a statement issued by the chairman of the forum who doubles as the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, the gpvernors said:
“The statement read: “While the Northern Governors Forum concedes to the rights of Nigerians to reside wherever they so desire without any molestation or discrimination, it also emphasizes that criminal elements should not be used to tar any particular ethnic group for any crime as that will portend danger to peaceful coexistence and national unity.
“Rather, such criminal elements should be exposed, isolated, and made to face the law of the land without prejudice to their ethnic backgrounds as the motives or criminal actions cannot be said to be the position of their ethnic group.
“In the face of recent worrisome developments, therefore, the Northern Governors Forum calls for calm and cautions Nigerians, particularly those in the affected areas who might have been aggrieved or targeted, to exercise restraint.
The governors’ reaction may not be unconnected with calls by Nigerians in some parts of the south for eviction of the herdsmen who have been accused of killing, kidnapping, raping and destruction of farmlands.
About two weeks ago the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, asked herders in his state to vacate the state’s forest reserves and subject themselves to registration if they want to continue to do their business in the state.
A couple of days after Akeredolu’s decision to flush out unregistered herders from Ondo forest reserves, a Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka, Igboho, also asked herdsmen in Ibarapa area of Oyo State to vacate the state.
After the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum he gave the Fulani herdsmen in Igangan community in Ibarapa North Local Government of Oyo State, Igboho visited the town again to enforce his eviction threat.
Houses and other properties belonging to the Seriki Fulani of Igangan were reportedly torched in the wake of Igboho’s visit.
He had since moved to Yewa community in Ogun State to drive out the Fulani herdsmen in the community too.
Reports from the community, too, have been unpleasant.
The property of the Seriki Fulani of Yewa community in Ogun and the cattle market in the area, too have been reportedly set ablaze.
The stories have been relatively the same in the South-south and South-east too as some women in Bayelsa and Edo states took to the streets on Wednesday, asking herdsmen to vacate their states.
The northern governors, in the statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Makut Macham, in Jos, described as worrisome the rampant eviction notices being given herdsmen in the south.
They recalled the recent intervention of the Nigerian Governors Forum, led by its chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi, who met with stakeholders in Akure, Ondo State, to douse tension and forge amicable resolution of the issues.
They noted that, while such intervention was celebrated as a success to be sustained through further engagement between herdsmen and representatives of affected communities, emerging reports of attacks on herders and the gradual introduction of ethnic sentiments into the conflict is disturbing and should immediately be nipped in the bud before it gets out of hand.
“Nigeria is going through a lot and escalating such tensions would definitely not resolve any grievances but rather aggravate the situation to levels that could threaten national security.
“Leaders across political, ethnic, religious and community lines should avoid utterances and actions that further fan the embers of distrust, hate, violence, and retaliation which can easily escalate the situation and cause chaos.
Call to speak out
“Relevant government officials, traditional rulers, and opinion moulders must also rise and speak with one voice by not only condemning crime, no matter who is involved, but also send the right signals to those who want to take the laws into their hands and trample on the Nigerian constitution by attempting to deny others the rights to live and pursue their legitimate business in whatever place they choose to reside.
“Security agencies must equally be firm and rise to the occasion by protecting all law-abiding citizens against the threat to their lives and properties, irrespective of their ethnic or other affiliations.
“They should also send a clear and unambiguous message to those threatening the peace that they will act decisively to stop them from plunging the nation into anarchy.
“The Northern Governors Forum further assures Nigerians of all ethnic, religious and political persuasions of their constitutional rights to pursue their legitimate businesses wherever they choose within the region and appeal to the people to resist any attempt to lure them into any act that can threaten the peace and tranquility of the region and the nation at large.”
Gov el-Rufai condemns eviction threats
On his part, Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, also condemned the calls for eviction of herdsmen, and urged state governors to take a stand before the situation degenerates into anarchy.
He said in a statement: “The government of Kaduna State notes with grave concern, video clips circulating on social media platforms like WhatsApp in which citizens of a particular ethnic group are being massacred and their properties destroyed in parts of Nigeria.
“This is coming amid avoidable rhetoric, frenzied ethnic profiling and unlawful eviction of citizens from their places of domicile.
“Many citizens of Kaduna State have reached out to me as their governor to confirm the authenticity of these video clips. Some allege that these incidents have the support of leaders of the places where attacks have occurred. While I am unable to confirm the authenticity of the video clips, their impact on the peaceful coexistence of our people is a source of concern.
“On behalf of the government of Kaduna State, I call on all Nigerians living in our state to respect law and order and the rights of all citizens to live in peace and security wherever they reside or work. I appeal to my colleagues governing other states in our country to make similar statements, and disavow these attacks and massacres.
“We must avoid anarchy and vigorously promote the rule of law and the right of all citizens to life, liberty and livelihoods wherever they choose to reside.
“Elected and appointed public leaders across the country must act on their constitutional obligations to protect all citizens, uphold order, and contribute to a climate for peaceful resolution of all issues.
“In Kaduna State, we are learning from decades of unfortunate and needless experiences. We have faced the tragic manifestations of the indigene-settler divide. This has been compounded by criminal activities that often have fatal consequences.
“But the victims of criminal actions like banditry and kidnapping in our state cut across all ethnic and religious groups. We have resisted the attempt to tar all members of any ethnic group for the criminal actions of some of their members.

“At all times, our government has upheld the right of every citizen to live and pursue legitimate livelihoods wherever they choose.
“This is why we ordered the arrest of persons who issued an unlawful eviction notice to our citizens of a certain ethnicity in 2017. The impunity and calculated disregard for a common humanity that prompted such irresponsible rhetoric is sadly at play again.
“The genuine fears felt by people across the country for their safety and security imposes a responsibility on all leaders to ensure that these anxieties are assuaged and urgent steps taken to relieve human misery and stop the criminal actions that menace our citizens and their property. This should be the top priority.
“It is time for governments and leaders at all levels to step in, exercise firm action, engage people and ensure that the responsibility these dire times demand are not derailed by those who only see opportunity for their own myopic agenda.
“We cannot allow, by inaction or otherwise, the reign of anarchy where fear creates a tragic momentum of violence, blurring the lines between victims and perpetrators and complicating a difficult moment.
“We urge our representatives in the National Assembly to expedite action on the Constitutional amendments that would usher in State and community policing as this is the ultimate panacea for effective law enforcement nationwide.
“We should not allow the criminal actions of insurgents and bandits to tear our country apart. We should not be seduced into the dangerous passion of blaming innocents, declaring them guilty of the crimes of others, evicting them, killing and destroying their property.

“In difficult times, we must uphold the right of everyone to live, with security and safety. The frenzy of ethnic labelling makes solutions difficult and can only guarantee disorder, violence and pain.’’

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 654 suspected criminals for armed robbery, arson, cultism and other vices, while 557 of the suspects have already been arraigned in a law court to answer for their crimes.

This disclosure was contained in the monthly Police Activity Report for January 2021, issued by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu.

The report disclosed that the Police foiled 13 armed robbery incidents and recovered 30 arms, while 119 vehicles and 670 motorcycles were impounded for violating the State traffic laws across the Lagos metropolis.

It also revealed that some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were arrested at NASFAT Area of Isawo, Ikorodu based on intelligence gathering, leading to the mobilisation of a team of policemen to dislodge criminals at the location; two of the hoodlums were apprehended and one locally made pistol, five unexpended cartridges and the suspects’ operational vehicle was impounded.

Two suspected armed robbers, according to the report, were also arrested at Eleko Beach and one locally made pistol, two unexpended cartridges and some charms were recovered from the suspects. Another set of hoodlums suspected to be cultists holding a meeting at Mashalashi Street, Sari Iganmu were dislodged. Two of the cultists were arrested while others escaped. A locally-made pistol and some weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from them.

While listing other areas where cultists operated and subsequently arrested to include Seme Border, Owode-Elede area of Mile 12, Weigh Bridge and Owode Onirin area among others, the report stated that one Seun Agbakin was taken into custody for allegedly stabbing a 36-year old man residing at Adewale Okediran Street, Iba, to death during an altercation.

The report revealed that the Police officers who responded to the distress call tried their possible best to save the life of the victim by rushing him to the hospital but he had lost so much blood that he gave up the ghost during treatment.

Also contained in the report was the case of a four-year-old girl, who was allegedly defiled by one Sunday Zanu on Thursday, January 7, 2021, inside a bathroom at Sogunro, Pedro, Iwaya. However, the police team dispatched to the scene were able to rescue the victim before taking her to a hospital for medical examination while the suspect was arrested.

On the contravention of the traffic law, 173 motorcycles were impounded for plying prohibited routes at the Owode Elede Area of Mile 12, Ikorodu Road, two vehicles were confiscated for driving against traffic and 31 for obstructing the free-flow of traffic in other parts of the State.

The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has made it known publicly plans to establish tertiary institution in Iseyin Local Government area of Oyo State.

The Governor stated this on Friday at the 8-day fidau prayer for the late mother of the state’s chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha, held in Iseyin town.

Makinde said formal announcement on the proposed higher institution would be made in February.

ODUDUWA NEWS quoted Makinde as saying: “When I was campaigning for the Governorship position, I made a promise here in Iseyin. I said we will establish a higher institution here. In six weeks from now, we will make the announcement.”