Home Blog Page 391

Flood displaces 5,392, grounds businesses in Sokoto, Adamawa LGs

admin
-
0
Flood displaces 5,392, grounds businesses in Sokoto, Adamawa LGs

At least 5,392 people have been displaced from their homes, and businesses disrupted following flood incidents that grounded the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State and the Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

This was revealed in a statement by the National Emergency Management Agency, shared on its X page on Wednesday.

According to NEMA, the floods also affected several businesses due to the submerging of community roads.

In Sokoto, NEMA reported that no fewer than 1,000 people were affected by the flood after two days of rainfall.

It added that the flood impacted seven communities, including Sabon-Gari, Kawara, Farkaji, Mun-Wadata, Mallamawa, Gabas, and Magazawa.

The statement read, “The incident, which occurred between September 20 and 21, 2024, was caused by a downpour that lasted for two days. Seven communities were affected in the LGA: Sabon-Gari, Kawara, Farkaji, Mun-Wadata, Mallamawa, Gabas, and Magazawa.

“Over 1,000 people were affected by the flood, which led to the collapse of many houses, destruction of fences, and submerging large hectares of farmland, including rice, maize, millet, beans, guinea corn, and sugarcane crops. Household utensils and appliances were also damaged.”

It also disclosed that major roads linking the affected communities were submerged, hampering economic activities in the area and making some of the communities inaccessible at the time of the assessment.”

In the Adamawa incident, NEMA reported that 732 households, comprising 4,392 people, were forced to seek shelter in neighbouring communities.

“The National Emergency Management Agency, Yola Operations Office, conducted an on-the-spot assessment of floods affecting communities in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

“The affected communities include Mbemun, Dullu, Bajen, Kabawa, and Tingno Kogi. The disaster displaced approximately 4,392 people and 732 households, many of whom are now taking refuge in neighbouring communities,” the statement concluded.

According to Metro reported on September 6 that 20 persons died as a result of devastating floods that ravaged Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State since early August.

The Bade LG chairman, Alhaji Babagana Ibrahim, had said that most of the deceased were people trapped under the collapsed mud houses.

Ibrahim said that the flood destroyed more than 10,000 houses and farmlands across 200 communities.

He listed the villages worst hit by the disaster as Misilli, Lawan Musa, Dagona, Dala, Katuzu and Sabongarin Gashua among others.

Gang sets house on fire after stealing foodstuffs in Kwara

admin
-
0
Gang sets house on fire after stealing foodstuffs in Kwara

A gang comprised of three teenagers on Wednesday set a three-bedroom bungalow on fire after stealing valuable items including foodstuffs, groceries and clothing in the Gaa Akanbi area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

The incident happened at No 59 Afenifere Community in the Onireke area, Gaa Akanbi, in the Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State at about 12 pm on Wednesday.

One of the teenagers was identified as 18-year-old Olawumi Olamide who also gave the name of one of the gang mates as Isiaka.

According to Metro gathered from eyewitnesses that the three teenagers decided to set the house on fire after their bid to steal the goods from the house was foiled by the residents of the area.

The Kwara State Fire Service Service which put off the fire said that valuable items such as a mattress, documents, Plasma television and clothing were destroyed in the inferno.

A statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Hassan Adekunle, said, “On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 12:11 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded swiftly to a fire at No. 59, Afenifere Community, Onireke, Gaa-Akanbi area, Ilorin.

“Upon arriving at the scene, the fire officers found a three-bedroom bungalow engulfed in flames. The officers immediately began extinguishing the fire and managed to bring it under control within 25 minutes.

“Despite their efforts, two rooms were completely ravaged by the inferno, with items such as a mattress, valuable documents, a plasma TV, and clothing destroyed”, the fire service said.

He said investigations revealed that the fire was an act of arson committed by a gang of thieves who had stolen foodstuffs, groceries, and clothing, noting that after being discovered by residents and community members, the gang set the house on fire in a desperate attempt to escape.

“One member of the three-person gang, 18-year-old Olawumi Ayomide, was apprehended by the community. During his capture, Ayomide stabbed a man twice before being handed over to the community chairman, Mr Azeez Jamiu, and subsequently turned over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Tanke Division”, the statement further said.

Ayomide confessed in a video recording during interrogation by the community members, who stripped him naked, that one of the gang members who he identified as Isiaka set the mattress on fire to distract people’s attention before he escaped into the bush.

The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, ASC Ayoola Michael, said he would find out from the Tanke Division where the suspect was detained and get back to our correspondent when he was contacted on Wednesday.

He however had not got back to us as of the time of filing this report.

However, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, urged the public to remain vigilant and prioritise safety always.

Produce maid in N100m theft trial, Lagos court orders correctional centre

admin
-
0
Produce maid in N100m theft trial, Lagos court orders correctional centre

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has ordered the Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre to produce a housemaid, Funmilayo Olawale, who is facing a N100m fraud charge along with five others.

The judge issued the directive after Olawale failed to appear at Tuesday’s court proceedings.

“Produce the first defendant Funmilayo Olawale, in the Correctional centre on the next adjourned date,” Oshodi said.

Olawale was initially arraigned on January 19, 2024, alongside Mbadike Aloysius, Ben Dimgba, Emmanuel Eze, Mukaila Husein, and Henry Ochoma, for allegedly stealing jewellery worth over N100m.

They were re-arraigned on March 4, 2024.

They are facing nine counts, bordering on conspiracy, stealing, breaking and entering, burglary, receiving stolen property, and impersonating as a “money doubler.”

The charges were preferred against them by the police.

Prosecuting counsel, DSP Henry Obiazi, informed the court that the defendants, along with others who are still at large, conspired to commit the offences.

Obiazi said the offences occurred in June 2023 at 303 Close, House 3, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos and explained that Olawale, a Benin Republic national and mother of three, allegedly stole eight boxes of jewellery from her employer, Mrs. Olawunmi Fajemirokun, on Banana Island.

“The first defendant, Olawale, broke into the complainant’s residence on June 7, 2023, stole the jewellery, and then fled the scene,” Obiazi added.

He also stated that Aloysius, Dimgba, and Ochoma conspired to receive the stolen property, knowing it had been stolen from Fajemirokun’s residence by Olawale.

“The second, third, fourth, and sixth defendants knowingly received the stolen jewellery from the first defendant,” Obiazi told the court.

Additionally, the prosecutor alleged that Husein conspired with one Yusuf Adamu, who is still at large, to receive the stolen property from Eze, who was described as the leader of a criminal syndicate.

“Husein and Adamu knew the items were stolen from the employer’s house by her housemaid,” he said.

Obiazi further accused Aloysius, Dimgba, Eze, and Ochoma of falsely presenting themselves as individuals capable of using sorcery to increase any sum of money.

“They claimed to be able to produce currency by treating paper or other material with chemical substances,” Obiazi alleged.

According to him, the offences contravened Sections 516, 390(6), 411(1)(2), and 427 of the Criminal Code 2004, as well as Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.

However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The judge initially adjourned the case until September 24, 2024, to rule on their bail applications.

At the resumed hearing of their bail application on Tuesday, the first defendant was absent and unrepresented by the counsel. Following this, counsel for the fifth defendant, Husein, applied for his bail.

Justice Oshodi granted Husein bail in the sum of N50m, with two sureties in like amount.

“The sureties must deposit original title documents for real estate and provide proof of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government,” the judge ordered.

Husein was also ordered to submit his valid passport to the court’s chief registrar. “If the passport is expired, the chief registrar must notify immigration authorities to prevent the defendant from obtaining a new one,” Justice Oshodi added.

The judge adjourned the case until December 3, 2024, for trial.

Akpata blames flawed electoral process for LP’s third-place finish

admin
-
0
Akpata blames flawed electoral process for LP’s third-place finish

The Labour Party’s candidate in the recent Edo State Governorship election, Olumide Akpata, has attributed the party’s third-place result to a deeply flawed electoral process.

On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the Edo State Governorship election.

Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party candidate, who finished third with 22,763 votes.

In the election, the APC won in 10 of the state’s 18 Local Government Areas, while the PDP emerged victorious in the remaining 8.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s flagship programme, Politics Today, on Wednesday, Akpata attributed his loss to a flawed electoral system.

He said, “The outcome, as you can see, is that the Labour Party came a very distant third. However, this was due to a process that was thoroughly flawed.

“When you consider, firstly, the level of voter apathy, which was quite high, it is estimated that only about 20% of eligible voters turned out to vote in Edo State, a highly enlightened and sophisticated community,” he stated.

Expressing his concerns about the election results, Akpata remarked, “You saw what happened at the collation centres, where there was chaos at some of the local government collation centres, and at the state collation centre, it was mayhem.

“So, that just tells you it wasn’t an election that took place on the 21st. It’s fine to lose fair and square, but when you realise that the Labour Party, from the very beginning, was out of the race because we apparently came to a gunfight with a penknife. We did not have the resources to buy votes, which were clearly on offer,” he said.

Akpata added, “For me, that’s how I would describe the process: vote-buying, voter apathy, and then mayhem and chaos at the collation centres. This is how we ended up with the outcome you mentioned.

“I have enough humility to accept defeat if indeed I lost, but only if it was on a level playing field.”

LP national caretaker committee backs boycott of Anambra LG election

admin
-
0
LP national caretaker committee backs boycott of Anambra LG election

The newly inaugurated 29-member National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, headed by former minister Senator Nenadi Usman, has thrown its weight behind the growing calls for members to pull out of Saturday’s local government election over alleged violations of the Electoral Act by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission.

Last week, the LP spokesperson in Anambra, Theo Egbe, announced the plan to boycott the forthcoming September 28, LG poll.

Egbe hinged their threat on the controversial list of qualified LP candidates published by ANSIEC, which he said did not emanate from them.

The party claimed that it neither conducted any primaries to nominate candidates nor submitted any names to the state electoral umpire.

Reacting via a statement issued on Wednesday, the Usman-led committee of the Labour Party backed the call by the Anambra LP executives led by its Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Emeh, for members to pull out of the local government election.

The statement read, “The National Leadership of Labour Party is aware and is in total support of the position of Labour Party Anambra State led by Chief Ugochukwu Emeh (Chairman) and Okoli Akirika (Secretary) and other stakeholders that LP is not participating in the proposed Anambra State Local Government Election scheduled to hold on 28/9/24 based on violations of the Electoral Act and Nigerian Constitution.

“We are also aware that the Labour Party is already in court in Suit No A/265/2024 Labour Party vs Anambra State House of Assembly and another suit No FHC/CV/AWK/223/2024 Labour Party vs ANSIEC &14 others challenging the procedure for the proposed LGA election and never sponsored any Candidate to contest the questioned Anambra State LGA election.

“The National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party hereby confirms that we have not constituted any caretaker committee in any state of the federation and that our party in Anambra State is presently led by Chief Ugochukwu Emeh and Okoli Akirika. This is for official and record purposes.”

Efforts to get the reaction of LP National Chairman Julius Abure were unsuccessful.

The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, also declined to speak elaborately on the issue.

He said, “Our answer to any question related to the illegal caretaker committee remains the same. We don’t recognise or know them.”

Police parade 123 suspect arrested during Delta ‘yahoo school’ raid

admin
-
0
Police parade 123 suspect arrested during Delta ‘yahoo school’ raid

The Delta State Police Command has paraded 123 suspected internet fraudsters arrested in an estate in Warri, Delta State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a video shared on X.com on Wednesday.

According to Edafe, the suspects were lured into a trap with promises of learning BTC trading and forex, only to find themselves in “Hustlers Kingdom” (HK), a notorious cybercrime training network.

Edafe wrote, “Arrest of 123 suspected internet fraudsters in an estate in Warri Delta State. Some of these boys are 17 years old and deceived that they were coming to learn BTC trading and forex instead found themselves in HK(hustlers kingdom)”

In the video, Edafe said in part, “We are here at Ekpan Police Station Effurun Divisional HQ, where we will be parading about 123 suspected internet fraudsters who were engaged in the business of internet fraud.”

Edafe revealed that the suspects, some as young as 17, were deceived by agents flaunting fake wealth on social media, convincing them to join the fraudulent scheme. The agents would then lure them to the estate, where they were subjected to physical abuse and exploitation.

“Their modus operandi is that they engage their agents who go on social media to flaunt wealth that most times isn’t even theirs and convince unsuspecting boys from the ages of 17, 18, 19, 20 that they want to teach them Forex and crypto business.

“They lure some from Kaduna, Akwa-Ibom, and Ibadan to that particular estate and beat the hell out of them, feeding them only when they feel like feeding them,” he said.

This is connected to a previous raid by military personnel from the 3 Battalion Nigerian Army Barracks, who stormed the “Hustle Kingdom” school in Effurun, Uvwie, Delta State, and arrested over 100 suspected internet fraudsters.

The school was reportedly training aspiring cyber criminals, and the suspects were handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Army Estate is a highbrow residential Post Service Housing Estate for retired military officers and civilians in Uvwie, Delta State.

Click the below to watch video:

Three teenagers set house on fire after stealing foodstuffs in Kwara

admin
-
0
Three teenagers set house on fire after stealing foodstuffs in Kwara

A teenage gang of three on Wednesday set a three-bedroom bungalow ablaze after stealing foodstuffs, groceries, and clothing in the Gaa Akanbi area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The incident, which occurred at No. 59 Afenifere Community, Onireke, Gaa Akanbi, in the Ilorin South Local Government Area, happened around 12 noon.

One of the teenagers, identified as 18-year-old Olawumi Olamide, revealed during interrogation that another member of the gang, known as Isiaka, was involved in the arson.

Eyewitnesses told According to Online that the gang decided to set the house on fire after their attempted robbery was foiled by residents of the community.

Items such as a mattress, valuable documents, a plasma television, and clothing were completely destroyed in the fire.

The Kwara State Fire Service, which responded to the incident, confirmed the fire was an act of arson.

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, fire officers managed to bring the blaze under control within 25 minutes.

“Upon arriving at the scene, fire officers found a three-bedroom bungalow engulfed in flames. Despite their efforts, two rooms were completely destroyed by the fire,” the statement read.

Adekunle further explained that the fire was started after the gang had stolen foodstuffs and other items.

When the thieves were caught in the act by residents, one of them, Isiaka, set the house on fire in a bid to create a distraction and escape.

During the chaos, 18-year-old Olawumi Olamide was apprehended by community members.

Before his capture, Olamide stabbed a man twice but was eventually handed over to the chairman of the community, Mr. Azeez Jamiu, who later turned him over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Tanke Division.

In a video recording of the interrogation, Olamide, who was stripped naked by the community members, confessed that Isiaka set a mattress on fire to distract people before fleeing into the bush.

The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in Kwara State, ASC Ayoola Michael, confirmed that the suspect was in custody but did not provide further details as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, urged the public to remain vigilant and prioritise safety to prevent similar incidents in the future.

APGA threatens to suspend Soludo over anti-party

admin
-
0
APGA threatens to suspend Soludo over anti-party

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance has declared its readiness to suspend the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, along with others involved in anti-party activities.

Addressing the media at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, the party’s National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, accused Soludo of obstructing every effort by the Supreme Court-recognised NWC to restore harmony within the party while continuing his anti-party conduct.

Njoku further announced that on Thursday, 26th September 2024, the NWC will release the names of party members, including Soludo, who will be suspended for their involvement in anti-party activities.

On the off-cycle governorship election in the state, he emphasised that the party has not endorsed a sole candidate for the race, expressing skepticism regarding Soludo’s chances of securing the party’s nomination through the primaries.

He stated that anyone aspiring to become the governor of the state must participate in the primary process, which he assured would be fair and transparent.

He explained, “Just recently, about a week or two ago, we left the Court of Appeal, where an application was made to prevent my recognition by INEC, despite the Supreme Court’s clear ruling that my removal as National Chairman of APGA was unjustifiable.

“If you remember, just about a week ago or two weeks ago, we just left the Court of Appeal where a stay was applied at the Court of Appeal to stay me being recognized by INEC despite the fact that the Supreme Court said in their own words that the removal of Chief Edozie Njoku as national chairman of APGA is not justiceable.

“They went to Awka and filed the suit, suddenly the the judge in Awka was very smart, and he pulled out of it. They came to the Federal High Court again. They filed another one behind our back, they were applying for an interim injunction behind the back of the national chairman of the party, behind the back of APGA, and behind the back of the orders of the Court of Appeal, which asked that they should enforce the judgment as pay or affirm the enforcement of the judgment, as per the Buhari High Cour.

“They went forward behind the back of APGA and INEC were very smart. INEC has written that everything they said is not true. The local government elections are going to take place in Anambra on the 28th but what we should understand about this is that Charles Soludo, the governor, I don’t know, he should know that it’s a political system he’s not an emperor.”

He added, “He has gone forward to get the House of Assembly to adopt, to make a law whereby the party cannot field their candidates. They went to the field and conducted something behind the back of the party, where they assembled certain people who were conducting anti-party activities.

“If you notice, the whole NWC are here, and a group of people are being suspended from the party. As you know, I’ve been preaching peace, peace peace peace peace because it’s not in the interest of the party for us to start suspending elected officers, to start suspending a governor, to start suspending House of Assembly members, to start suspending the senator from Abia.

“They are pushing us far to the limit, and they are believing that the governor of Anambra State is bigger than the party. No one is bigger than the party, and so maybe they are playing on that I want peace, that I will not change, even the beauty. You will remember what the chairman of the bot said, that we the NWC, must take action so that we don’t look like toothless Bulldogs.

“This is a political party, and APGA is here to stay. We have 80% agreed on those people who are going to be suspended from the party. One of those people is the governor. And I’m saying, are we going to just suspend the only Governor we have? But if the only Governor we have is pretending or playing to the gallery, making these people who are honest people go in and commit anti-party activities. We must nip this in the board. I don’t know what Soludo is playing at. I don’t know what his problem is, but he must conform himself under the party.”

Police arrest man over Ogun teenager’s death during football match

admin
-
0
Police arrest man over Ogun teenager’s death during football match

The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended one Alex Eziochukwu for allegedly murdering a 16-year-old Jamilu Lasisi in the Ibegba area of the Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

According to Online learnt on Wednesday that the suspect, Eziochukwu, was arrested following a tip-off received from an informant at about 4am on Wednesday.

The state command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed Eziochukwu’s arrest, said there was an argument between him and the deceased leading to a confrontation on Tuesday.

While the fight was ongoing, our correspondent learnt that the victim fell on the football pitch before he was declared dead after he was rushed down to the hospital for medical attention.

After the death of the teenager was confirmed by a doctor, the suspect was said to have absconded, leading the police to launch a manhunt, which subsequently led to his arrest on Wednesday morning.

Odutola said, “A phone call was received from one Tobi Olarewaju that his nephew, Jamiu Lasisi, 16 years old, of the same address, was playing football in the area alongside others.

“In the process, an argument ensued between him and one of the footballers; he fell down unconscious, and he was rushed to Owokoniran Hospital, GRA Sagamu, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on duty.

“Following the report on Tuesday, a team of detectives was led to the scene, searching every nook and cranny of the area with a view to arresting the suspect, but all to no avail.”

She added that the evacuation of the corpse from the hospital to the mortuary was underway.

NEMA confirms one dead, two missing in Ibadan flood

admin
-
0
NEMA confirms one dead, two missing in Ibadan flood

The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the death of one and two missing persons in a Tuesday evening flood incident around the Joyce-B/Mobil area of Ibadan.

The NEMA South-West Coordinator, Kadir Olanrewaju, disclosed this to newsmen in Ibadan on Wednesday while assessing the level of damage at the scene.

NAN reports that a heavy downpour on Tuesday across some areas within the Ibadan metropolis affected some residential areas, leaving inestimable property destroyed.

Olanrewaju attributed the flooding to improper channelisation of drainage in the area, saying the volume of water in the area was too much for the available drainages.

He said the flood reached the gate level, adding that the area was a flash flood plane, which might result in heavy disaster if not addressed at the right time.

“People need to move away from this place because if we have another rain, the flood will be devastating; you can see that the lower parts of most of the buildings and the fences are weak,” he said.

One of the residents of the area, Mr Solomon Agboro, said the flood covered the ground floor of his building, forcing his family members to run upstairs for safety.

Agboro, who said the flood destroyed all the property on the ground floor, called on the government to come to their aid in creating proper channelisation in the area.

Another resident, Oni Bishola, said she had been living in the area for the last four years and had been experiencing flooding every year.

Bishola, however, said that Tuesday’s flooding was the heaviest in the area since she moved in.

She added that most household items like gas cookers, televisions, compressors, machines and mattresses, among others, were destroyed.

She called on the management of the Ibadan South-West Local Government and Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to come to their aid in providing a proper water channelisation.

NAN also observed that the fence of a building under construction beside Calvary Heritage School, Felele area of Ibadan, was brought down due to the flooding.

At the Idi-Odo junction, the front of FCMB was flooded due to a lack of proper drainages, thus disrupting the free flow of vehicles.

Some roads in the adjoining streets at Ring Road area were also badly affected due to the heavy downpour.

NAN

1...390391392...2,805Page 391 of 2,805
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv