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.
The Lagos state government on Friday, February 2, impounded a sewage evacuation truck and arrested the driver for discharging faeces in the drainage and polluting the environment in Amuwo Odofin Housing Estate, Mile 2.
Disclosing this via his X handle, the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunboh Wahab, said the driver has been arraigned and remanded by the magistrate till Tuesday, February 6 for sentencing.
Wahab added that the truck owner will also be arraigned in a criminal prosecution in line with the Lagos State Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 on Tuesday, 6th of February, 2024.
”A sewage evacuation truck was impounded on Friday and the driver arrested by the LSWMO operatives for discharging faeces in the drainage and polluting the environment in Amuwo Odofin Housing Estate, Mile 2
The driver has been arraigned and remanded by the magistrate till Tuesday for sentencing. The truck owner will also be arraigned in a criminal prosecution in line with the Lagos State Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 on Tuesday, 6th of February, 2024.
The State government has reiterated a zero-tolerance to all environmental nuisances across the state.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced an end to the daily Cash Reserve Ratio debits for commercial banks in the country.
The apex bank says it will adopting an updated Cash Reserve Requirement mechanism for Nigerian banks.
This was contained in a circular titled ‘Cash Reserve Requirement Framework Implementation Guidelines’ signed by its Acting Director, Banking Supervision Department, Dr Adetona Adedeji, on Friday.
According to the CBN, the move is intended to facilitate banks’ capacity for planning, monitoring, and aligning their records with the apex bank.
The percentage of cash required to be kept in reserves as against the bank’s total deposits is called the Cash Reserve Ratio.
The implementation of the new Cash Reserve Requirement framework will follow a structured process, as outlined by the CBN.
The statement read, “The determination of the segment of deposits subject to sterilisation with the CBN as CRR will follow the processes outlined below:
“Phase 1 – Utilisation of the Incremental Approach: The extant ratios (commercial banks 32.5% and merchant banks 10%) will be applied to increases in the banks’ weekly average adjusted deposits.
“Phase 2 — CRR levy of 50% of the lending shortfall will be enforced for banks that do not meet the minimum Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) as per our correspondence to all banks referenced BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/12/049 dated September 30, 2019.”
The CBN added that it will provide banks with details of the applied charges and their underlying computation rationale.
In a recent live performance, Nigerian Fuji music legend K1 conveyed the collective frustration and anger of Nigerians to President Bola Tinubu.
The iconic musician, singing in Yoruba, highlighted the challenges faced by the ordinary people, including inadequate power supply and the economic impact of policy decisions.
K1 directly appealed to President Tinubu, urging him to address the citizens’ numerous problems. He emphasized the distress and suffering experienced by Nigerians and criticized those benefiting from the misery of the masses.
“I plead with you to find a solution to the plight of the masses. The citizens are crying and wailing. We’re suffering amid a lack of adequate power supply. How did things get to this point? I implore you to fix these problems.
“We know you to be a philanthropist, but we Nigerians are angry. The people of Nigeria are angry.
“The traders in this country are not happy. Look at what the dollar has become (a reference to the exchange rate),” K1 said.Specifically addressing the rising cases of kidnappings, K1 called on Tinubu to tackle the security issue effectively.
Despite expressing the grievances, K1 encouraged Nigerians to be patient and hopeful, assuring them that Tinubu’s government would overcome the country’s challenges.
The Oyo State Government, on Thursday sealed a new generation Church, located at Golden Estate, Oluyole, Ibadan, the State capital.
The measure was taken by the State Government, against a branch of Christ Life Church in the area, after several unresolved steps taken by the Ministry to mediate among the complainants, residents and the church.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, the State Government was left with no other options, but to seal the church premises to avert preventable escalations of brewing tensions between the residents and the church on Sunday.
Some members of the community had locked the estate gate against members of Christ Life Church, and preventing services to hold.
Hon. Mogbonjubola, declared that the present administration would not fold its arms and allow escalations of any sort.
Officials of the Ministry on receipt of several complaints from next door residents to the Church, over the incessant noise, through official letters and phone calls, visited the area, on Thursday 9th November, 2023.
The team recorded the sound level of the church activities at intervals, starting from praise- worship, with the average reading of Seventy-four (74) DB (daytime), contravening the Extant Environmental Regulations of 2023, Section 58, Paragraph (b) which states that the noise limits for residential areas at daytime must not exceed 65DB.
Hence, it was ascertained with sound measurements that the church constituted noise pollution.
He emphasized that a resolution meeting was held with the parties, in the Ministry’s conference room on 29th November 2023, where the Church refused to sign undertaking letter, with the excuse to get approval from the its Headquarters and report back on Monday 4th December, 2023.
The Ministry frowned at the consistent crisis, which consequently resulted in the sealing of the church.
The Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says the Nigerian Government spends N1 billion on Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) and air tickets for Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, officers who travel back and forth from Abuja to Lagos, annually.
Keyamo disclosed this on Thursday in a statement clarifying his ‘N500 million FAAN workers’ DTA’ comment on Channels Television.
According to him, in 2023, FAAN workers spent N493,678,620.37 on DTA and N451,058,950.09 for air tickets.
“When I did my Channels TV interview yesterday, I was not briefed about the amount FAAN spent last year alone on DTA (Duty Tour Allowance) for the principal officers who travelled back and forth from Lagos to Abuja almost daily.
“The amount came up to N493,678,620.37. Aside from the air tickets, which I mentioned amounted to N451,058,950.09.
“So, in total, because of insistence on naming Abuja as the headquarters of FAAN (when there are no offices in Abuja to accommodate all the principal officers), FAAN spent close to N1 billion in one year,” he said.
The Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday called on the State Commissioner of Police to order the immediate arrest of a Fulani Leader in Iwajowa Local Government, popularly called Seriki Chumo for allegedly masterminding the killing of a farmer, two members of Odua People’s Congress, OPC and a personnel of the Amotekun Corp during a crisis that engulfed Iwere-Ile in October, 2023.
The call was contained in the report presented by the House Committee on Security and Strategy that investigated the incident which occured on Sunday 15th October, 2023 at Iwere-Ile in Iwajowa Local Government area of Oyo State, and read at the floor of the House by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Daud Al-Ameen Olalere (Ibadan North West).
According to the report, the call for the arrest of Seriki Chumo became imperative following the discovery of used cartridges in his house.
The Seriki is also said to be engaging in a gun running business.
Recall that member representing Iwajowa State Constituency, Hon. Ogunsola Anthony Oladejo had brought the incident before the Oyo State House of Assembly under a Matter of Urgent Public Importance.
” Trouble reportedly started on Sunday,15th October, 2023 when some Fulani herdsmen whose cattle invaded a farm in Apakolo village in Iwere-Ile killed the farm owner, Mr. Kege Mayowa when he challenged the invaders.
” On Sunday, Mr. Kege Mayowa, an Ohori farmer was murdered on his farmland at Apakolo village by yet-to-be-arrested Fulani herdsmen, after the late farmer challenged his killer when the herders were feeding cows on the farm.
” After the killing, a team of joint security agents comprising Operation Burst, Police, Amotekun LG Vigilante, and members of Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, were alerted and immediately mobilized to the scene.
” But on sighting the team of security operatives, the herdsmen opened fire and this resulted in the death of Mr Ojo Yakubu (Amotekun operative), Mr Wasiu Salau a.k.a Federal, and Mr. Akeem Iroko.
” The herdsmen also wounded another Amotekun officer, Mr Kazeem Hammed; Mr Muraina Jamie, a resident at Apakolo while leaving many others receiving treatment at different undisclosed hospitals.
” The crisis escalated on Monday 16th October, 2023.” The report read
The House while commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident called for full investigation into the matter in order to bring all suspects and criminals involved to justice.
It equally appealed to security agents especially the Amotekun corps to engage in regular patrol of identified hideouts of criminal herders and Fulani bandits in the Local Government and the neighbouring settlements to forestall future occurrence.
Other recommendations include ” That the Oyo State House of Assembly should put necessary machinery in motion towards coordinating a security summit so as to proffer lasting solution to the incidences of security breaches and criminalities in the State.
” Traditional rulers particularly in Okeogun axis of the State be urged to always conduct proper investigation and documentation before allocating lands to strange herders.”
In their contributions, Oyo State lawmakers condemned in strong terms the incessant attacks and killings of innocent farmers by Fulani herders in local and agrarian communities in Ogbomosho, Oyo, Ibarapa and Okeogun areas of the State.
They called on Governors of South West States to put measures in place towards empowering and equipping the Amotekun Corps to enable them to deal with the excesses and criminal activities of the Fulani herders and bandits across Yoruba land.
In a bid to flush out criminal elements especially kidnappers out of the State, a combined team of the POLICE, NSCDC, AMOTEKUN, O.P.C and LOCAL HUNTERS today being 30/01/2024 embarked on a bush combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah to the thick forest around Iju/Ikere boundary.
During the Operation, five suspected kidnappers namely- USMAN JELILI, MOHAMMED BANDE, ABUBAKAR ALIU, ISAH ABDULAHI and SULEIMAN ABDULAHI were arrested.
During interogation, the suspects claimed to be herdsmen but it was later discovered that none of them has a cattle and no cattle was found with them in the forest where they were arrested.
The following items were found with them in the forest; Two Motorcycles, one cutlass, one jack knife/ dagger and four phones.
Kidnappers of five pupils of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, and four staff members have demanded N100 million ransom for the release of the nine victims who were taken away on Monday.
The principal of the secondary section of the school, Boje Olanireti, confirmed the ransom demand, in an interview with Punch on Tuesday.
The abduction epidemic has continued to defy the efforts of the security agencies as cases of kidnappings were being recorded in various parts of the country daily.
The abduction of the schoolchildren and four staff members occurred when the gunmen waylaid the school bus conveying 25 pupils home after school hours in the Emure community in Ekiti State.
Shedding light on how the incident occurred, Olanireti explained that the abduction happened about a five-minute drive from the school.
She said, “Immediately the school closed at 3 pm, and by the time we gathered all the children, it was already 3:30 pm. It was that time that they moved.
So, the incident happened between 3:30 pm and 4 pm. The school is in a suburb of Emure village, so they were going back home in Eporo. The incident occurred just about a five-minute drive from the school to Eporo.
“When the gunmen attacked, the people around heard the gunshots, and they came to Emure with motorcycles to inform the people in the school about what happened. We immediately reported to the police station at Emure.
“The students were over 25 on the bus when the incident happened. When the gunmen attacked them, they shot the tyre of the vehicle and asked the children to come out of the bus. They asked all of them to lie down. They picked five students and four staff members. They, after that, asked others to go.”
Olanireti added, “The five students comprise two from the secondary (school) and three from primary school while the four staff comprise two teachers, one driver and one bus assistant.
“When the parents heard about the incident, they came from Eporo, and they have been making frantic efforts by reaching out to some security outfits, including the police and Amotekun.’’
“The security operatives have also been talking to the proprietor of the primary school, and he has been giving them information. By the time they opened communication, they first called the husband of one of the teachers and demanded N10 million for each kidnapped victim. But when they later called the headmaster, they demanded N100m for all of them.” the principal said.
A family source at Eporo Ekiti, who preferred anonymity, confirmed on Tuesday that the kidnappers had contacted the family of one of the children demanding N100 million on the victims.
The source said, “They called the family of one of the school children, and they are requesting N10 million per victim. What we gathered is that there are nine persons kidnapped – five schoolchildren, two teachers, one bus assistant, and a driver.
“The parents are at Eporo. The bus was taking them home after closing. It was in the process that the kidnappers struck. None of the families of the abductees can afford the ransom.’’
Oyo State House of Assembly will leave no stone unturned in curbing the disgusting act of attacking and killing of innocent citizens by Fulani herders in Oriire Local Government and other parts of the State.
The Lawmakers unanimously declared this while reacting to a motion sponsored by the Honourable member representing Oriire State Contituency, Hon. Johnson Ogundele.
While presenting the motion, Hon. Ogundele maintained that two incidents of attacks and killing of innocent people by Fulani herders occurred within a spate of nine days in Oriire Local Government , describing both incident as absolutely inhuman and barbaric in a civilised world like ours.
Citing example of the evil act perpetrating by herders in Ogbomosho communities, Hon. Ogundele said “I have also visited the victims in the Hospital for on the spot assessment and it is disheartening to inform the House that one of the victims, Mr.Amusa Kareem got his left hand cut off completely by the herders”
In his comment, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who presided over the plenary stated that the leadership of the House will meet and look for parameters to be adopted to curb the menace of insecurity in the State.
“To tackle the challenges, there is need to engage the various State and local security agencies , Monarchs, farmers and other relevant bodies base on zones inorder to identify way forward.
The House however urged Ministry of Justice and all Security Agencies across the State to see to the strict enforcement of Oyo State Open Rearing and Anti – Grazing Law under Omituntun 2.0 in Addrressing the menace and reoccurrence of attacks on citizens by Fulani Herders.
