News
Plateau Killings: Shettima promises justice for victims
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would not rest on its oars until victims of the gruesome attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA)of Plateau State get justice.
The Spokesman of the Vice-President, Stanley Nkwocha in a statement said Shettima gave the assurance when he paid a condolence visit to the affected communities in the state.
The vice president, who condoled with the people and Plateau government over the incident, vowed that the Killings in the state and other parts of the country must stop.
” Please accept our heartfelt condolences, accept our deepest apologies; we won’t rest until you access justice and until you are safe.”he assured
Shettima informed the people about how heart-broken his principal, President Tinubu, had been since he received news of the gory incident.
” President Tinubu is deeply shaken by this tragedy and shares in this unspeakable sorrow that has shattered the joy of Christmas across the country.
” When one community bleeds, the entire nation feels the pain. The pain we feel now transcends ethnicity or religion, geography or politics.
” The grief that binds us is a testament to our shared humanity, not differences, ” he added
He acknowledged the fact that it was an indescribable nightmare to bury families, describing it as a rare experience that is much more unbearable than the pain of losing one or two loved ones.
“We cannot fathom the depth of this grief beyond the experience of the bereaved. We can only offer to assuage your pain.
” What has happened to you is a funeral for the entire nation. Our hearts bleed alongside yours, our dear brothers and sisters in Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, and all over Plateau State.”he said
Shettima assured the people that the Tinubu administration was out to protect them and ensure justice.
” Even though it may appear as if the government has failed them in their time of serious need, justice is the path to collective safety, unity, and healing of the nation.
” We came to power promising to uphold the sanctity of every citizen’s life, and now is the time to reassure you that this inter-community violence, which has hijacked the humanity and serenity of this beautiful state over the past decades, will never persist under our watch.
” We will harness all our resources to bring those responsible to justice; we will not rest until we are able to prevent the recurrence of these heinous acts.
” Your blood, your tears, and your cries stain our collective conscience. We are here for you, we are here, resolute in our commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators of these mindless killings face the full force of the law.”
Shettima , however, appealed to the people of the state to resist the temptation to succumb to sectional divisions or the poisonous rhetoric of hatred towards their fellow citizens.
He also reassured that the government
was set out to ensure justice and security for them.
” This violence persists due to this dangerous practice of treating criminals as ambassadors of their group, where the law is taken into our hands, and where protection fails.
” But this is not the case now. This is a promise,” Shettima assured.
…Nabs Osun monarch, Chadian, youth corps member for drug trafficking
By Adeyanju Esther
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have executed a successful operation targeting a high-profile cocaine syndicate based in Lagos. Led by Agbakoba John Mmadu, 54, and his wife Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, along with their associate Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, the syndicate was known for its extensive involvement in packaging, distributing, and trafficking cocaine within and outside Nigeria.
The raid, conducted by a specialised unit of the NDLEA following months of meticulous intelligence gathering and surveillance, resulted in significant seizures of the illicit drug.
On Wednesday, 3rd July 2024, a 54 years old Agbakoba John Mmadu was apprehended at Ago Palace Way, Okota, where operatives recovered seven parcels of cocaine weighing a total of 7.652 kilograms.
Simultaneously, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe and Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane were nabbed at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi Close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin area, with 122 compressed pellets of cocaine weighing 2.42kg. The combined seizure amounted to 10.1 kilograms valued at over N2.1 billion.
In Benue state on Thursday, 4th July 2024, NDLEA intercepted a consignment of 350 grams of cocaine concealed within an MP3 speaker at a checkpoint along Enugu Road, Otukpo. A subsequent operation at Flight Motor Park in Otukpo led to the arrest of the parcel’s owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony.
Further operations in Adamawa state on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024, resulted in the arrest of Yves Ahmat Gali, a Chadian national, found in possession of 20 compressed blocks and nine plastic containers of Loud cannabis weighing 5.200kg, concealed within a loudspeaker during a stop and search operation along Ngurore – Yola road.
In Kano on the same day, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, a youth corps member, was arrested at Corpers Lodge, Sumaila area, with 1.250kg of Loud cannabis. In Osun state, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, head of the Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, was arrested on Friday, 5th July 2024, with 5kg of fresh cannabis plants.
NDLEA operatives raided Ikota forest in Ifedore LGA, Ondo state, arresting Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37, during a five-day operation that ended on Monday, 1st July 2024. The raid resulted in the destruction of 42,500kg of cannabis and recovery of 73.5kg of the substance for prosecution.
In Abuja, FCT, on Saturday, 6th July 2024, NDLEA arrested Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, with a significant cache of opioids including 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup, 13,540 pills of tramadol, 50,000 pills of diazepam, and 59 pills of rohypnol. The suspects claimed the drugs originated from Onitsha, Anambra state.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and commands involved for their diligent efforts in reducing drug supply while emphasising the importance of simultaneous drug abuse sensitization under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
Throughout the past week, NDLEA commands across Nigeria continued their WADA sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, aiming to raise awareness about the perils of drug abuse.
News
Floods: LASG gives 48-hour notice to remove properties blocking Gbagada-Bariga drainage channel
By Esther Agbo
The Lagos State Government has issued a 48-hour notice for the evacuation of squatters and owners of unauthorised structures along the Gbagada-Bariga drainage channel.
This announcement was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, through a post via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, on Sunday.
Wahab highlighted that the drainage channel, essential for preventing flooding in Bariga, Gbagada, Sholuyi, and surrounding areas, has been obstructed by squatters and unauthorised structures. This obstruction has been a major factor in the recent flooding in the region.
“The drainage channel which defloods Bariga, Gbagada, Sholuyi downstream communities and environs, and discharges into System 1 has been taken over by squatters who have constituted nuisance and security risks to the estate, and property owners who deliberately built to obstruct free flow of water in the area,” Wahab stated.
“Shanties were erected along the length of the channel, and their activities blocked collectors that are supposed to carry stormwater into the channel, which resulted in the flooding experienced during the week.”
Wahab also added that after the eviction notice period, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources would begin removing the illegal structures to restore proper drainage and reduce flooding risks.
This decision follows a severe 10-hour rainstorm on Wednesday that led to widespread flooding across Lagos and Ogun states.
The heavy downpour resulted in the collapse of a two-storey building in Mushin, disrupted vehicular movement, and hampered business activities, affecting thousands of residents and preventing many pupils from attending school.
By Omobolaji Adekunle, Abeokuta
The Ogun II Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has announced a significant revenue milestone, generating N12.8 billion in the first half of 2024. This figure represents a 51 percent increase from the same period last year.
Comptroller Olusola Bisi Alade, Customs Area Controller of the command, attributed the success to the diligent efforts of the officers and men of the command.
“The revenue was generated through the tireless efforts of our officers and men, who worked hard to ensure that the revenue targets given to the command were met and exceeded,” he stated during a press briefing in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
The command’s revenue collection improved significantly in the last three months, with N3.48 billion generated in April, N2.8 billion in May, and N3.66 billion in June.
The discovery of 11 previously unknown factories and one bonded terminal contributed to the command’s success. These factories, now under different stages of registration, include Sygen Pharmaceutical Limited, Sprout and Kingsberg Nigeria Limited, and Adesouthern Nigeria Limited, among others.
Comptroller Alade commended the dedication of his officers and men and the cooperation of other units, especially the Customs Intelligence Unit and Customs Police Unit, for their prompt actions.
He noted that the achievement is in line with the policy drive of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who operates under the principle of consolidation, collaboration, and innovation.
The command urged factories and traders to continue paying their appropriate excise duty and other charges promptly, assuring them of its commitment to fulfilling its mandate under the Nigerian Customs Service Act.
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