Metro

Edo: Commuters Stranded As Spare Parts Dealers Protest Deplorable Condition Of Road

Published

2 years ago

August 15, 2022

Editor

Commuters of the Benin-Lagos Expressway were on Monday stranded as hundreds of vehicle spare parts dealers in the popular Uwelu International Spare Part Market shut down the Ugbowo axis of the highway over the deplorable condition of the Uwelu Road that leads to the market.

The development resulted in heavy traffic gridlock, as motorists coming from Lagos side of the road and those going out could not continue their journey.

The traders who also shut their shops in the market, barricaded the ever-busy highway in protest of the Uwelu Road, which they laid have collapsed completely.

Mostly affected were workers of University of Benin (UNIBEN) and those of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Travellers who had boarded buses from the various transport companies were also trapped in the hold up for several hours.

Commuters had to treck from the UNIBEN main gate to Saint Patrick Catholic Church before they could board buses to their respective destinations, while those heading to Ugbowo from Ring Road and New Benin had to treck from Five Junction to Ugbowo.

One of the protesting traders who identified himself as Chinedu, lamented that the deplorable condition of the road has badly affected their businesses, as customers could no longer access the market.

He added that government agents have continued to collect revenue from them.

“Many of our members no longer come to the market as the road has completely cut us off and customers no longer come to partronise us.

“The most annoying part of it is that while we can not do business in the market, government agents come to the market everyday to collect revenue,” he said.

Speaking, a commuter identified as simas Sarah, said she had to treck to Uselu market from 5-Junction, as a result of the traffic gridlock.

As at the time of filing this report, the protesters said they were prepared to remain on the road until relevant government agents come to address their plight.

Metro

PoS Operator Shot Dead In Ogun

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have killed a Point of Sale operator in the Oke-Lantoro area of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The incident happened at about 7 pm on Sunday, May 12, 2024, when the gunmen stormed the area on a motorcycle, shooting sporadically.

A source told the punch that the incident caused panic among residents of the area who scampered for safety.

“One person was shot in the Oke-Lantoro area on Sunday. The men who were armed with guns came on a motorcycle and shot sporadically in the air, and before we realised what was happening, they shot at the lotto agent. There was tension as people were scampering for safety so as not to be caught in the incident,” the source said.

The source, however, added that the intervention of the police brought the situation to calm.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident said it was a suspected case of robbery and not cult clashes as speculated.

She identified the victim as one Mutiu Salako who was shot by two armed men during the attack.

“The incident happened, but it was a suspected case of armed robbery, not cult clash as speculated by some persons. Two armed men were reported to have stormed the area in a motorcycle and shot at the PoS operator who was in his shop in the area,” the PPRO said.

Odutola added that a manhunt had been launched for the fleeing suspects while vowing that the police would do everything to ensure they were brought to justice.

“What we want the good people of Ogun State to know is that suspects can only run but can not hide. We will do everything possible to bring them to justice.”

Metro

Police Rescue Kidnapped Children In Lagos, Arrest Abductors

Published

15 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

Men of the Lagos State Command have arrested one Tewase Peter and Ternugwa Paul for abducting two teenagers from Benue State.

A statement released today May 13 by the spokesperson of the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, says the victims, Precious and Agera, were rescued from their abductees in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He stated that the victims were kidnapped while their mother was at the market.

The statement in part reads: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted from their home in Benue State while their mother was away in the market.

“After the mother’s numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact the older victim via his mobile phone, a Good Samaritan answered the phone while the suspects were not at home with the victims, and informed the mother that one of the suspects, Peter, accompanied by his friend, one Paul, had taken her daughters to Lagos with intentions to transport them to Ghana for forced labour.

“Upon receiving the information at the Lagos State Police Command, detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department busted Peter’s place at Itaoluwo, Ikorodu, and rescued the victims successfully.

“Investigation is ongoing to apprehend all other individuals involved in this crime. Suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigations.”

Metro

Three Suspects Connected To Series Of Kidnappings In Delta Arrested

Published

15 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested three suspected cultists in connection with a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and other communities in the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 12, 2024, said an automatic pump action gun and a new AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine were recovered from the suspects.

“On 9/5/2024 at about 0430hrs, the special team deployed to Ughelli by the commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi led by ASP Julius Robinson acting on technically generated intelligence stormed Oghara town and arrested a 28yrs suspect, who is a member of Eiye confraternity resident in Oghara Delta State,” the statement read.

“The suspect led the operatives to a hotel in Koko Junction Oghara where another suspect aged 46yrs and a member of Eiye confraternity was arrested and an automatic Pump Action gun was recovered from him.

“Consequently, upon further interrogation of the two suspects, they led the operatives to the arrest of another 32-year-old suspect in Sapele Delta State where one new AK-47 rifle with and an empty magazine were recovered.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects are linked to a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and the environs. The suspects are in custody and the investigation is ongoing.”