Metro

Edo Govt Talks Tough, Vows Sanctions For Miners Issuing ‘Illegal Authorization To Operators Of Borrow Pits

Published

1 week ago

June 19, 2024

The Edo State Government has threatened tough sanctions for Federal Government mining officers in the state involved in issuing illegal authorization for the operations of borrow pits in the Obagie N’ Evbosa axis, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the State.

The warning was issued by the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during an inspection tour of the borrow pit site at Obagie ‘N Evbosa, with other members of the State Executive Council.

The governor, who was taken aback by the extent of illegal activities going on in the site, said the city is under environmental threat, adding that his administration will do everything possible to stop all those illegally mining sands in Edo State.

He described as illegal and illicit, the activities of the borrow bit operators, assuring that his administration will do everything possible to put a stop to the acts,

He noted: “This people don’t care about law and order. They don’t have respect for the government. We issued a statement warning people operating the borrowed pits to desist until we agreed on the areas that can be borrowed.

“From what we have seen today, it is like these operators have no respect and they are challenging the government. Government will show its full might and force. This is threatening the environment. If we continue this way and at this rate, we will lose areas and communities. The National Transmission Company issued a warning that even transmission lines are being threatened because people are borrowing and taking sands around areas that are hosting national infrastructure.

“You can see what is going on here. This is illegal and illicit. As a government, we will do everything possible to put a stop to it. We are issuing this and sending this as a warning to the Federal mining officers in the State who permit this and give approval and authorization that we would arrest and deal with them in Edo State.”

Obaseki further stated, “This is not a banana republic and we can’t just come out here to destroy our environment this way. In the next few years, people in these communities will begin to experience landslides and mudslides because of the way these mining activities are being carried out.

“This is not right. We can’t continue to do this to ourselves. Our City is under threat and this government will do all to stop all those illegally mining sands here.”

Metro

Nigerian Army Pulls Out 10 Officers In Bauchi

Published

3 hours ago

June 28, 2024

Editor

The Nigerian Army Armoured Corps in Bauchi state, on Thursday, pulled out 10 officers who have retired from the military.

Speaking during the pulling out ceremony, one of the retired senior officers, who spoke on behalf of others, Maj:-Gen. Nsor Ojiji, called on the Nigerian government to continue to sustain the Armour Corps.

According to him, the corps needed a lot of equipment in tanks and Armoured fighting vehicles as well as tank ammunition.

“It is this corps that would propel the rest of the army in battle so that the commanders could achieve their objectives. So, the government has to take care of them.

“I’ve been privileged to work with the best set of human beings and people who are very committed and moving with the tanks alone commands a lot of respect and I want to say that I was in the best corps of the Nigerian Army Forces,” he said.

He also called on the Army Communities to keep up the good work, take care of one another and solidly be together.

The retired officer further urged all the commanders to continue to take care of their men and their families as well.

“I want to thank the Chief of Army Staff for all the efforts he has been making and I also wish to thank the Commander, Armoured Corps and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces for all their untiring effort to advance the Nigerian Army,” he said

Also speaking, the Commander of the Corps, Maj:-Gen. Mohammed Ahmed said he was highly grateful, satisfied and honoured to have witnessed a day filled with mixed feelings and emotions of the pulling out of the retired Senior officers.

He said “we are happy that we did what we are supposed to do.

“There is no army in the world that has enough, and the Nigerian Army has developed its capacity to the level that you can see that most of our equipment is highly maintained”.

Other pulled out officers included; Maj:-Gen M.H Magaji, Maj:-Gen G.B Audu, Maj:-Gen. M Danmadami, Maj:-Gen J.G Mohammed and Maj:-Gen U.I Mohammed.

Others included; Brig:-Gen A. Israel, Brig:-Gen B.A Mohammed, Brig:-Gen D. Abdulsalam and Brig:-Gen S.P Akpan.

Metro

Fire Guts Karu Market In Abuja

Published

3 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Editor

Photo: File copy

Karu modern market in Abuja was on Thursday evening engulfed by fire.

The raging inferno, which cause could not be immediately ascertained, was said to have affected a section of the market.

As of 8pm on Thursday, firefighters were reportedly still battling to put out the inferno.

A shop owner, Hon. Jibreel Babangoshi, he was on the ground described the situation as bad.

He said; “The Karu market situation is bad.
Only one fire truck was on ground. They had no water when the fire started. When they got water, they couldn’t gain access as shops had been constructed on every available space.
They (firefighters) had to go through the back, from the village.

“Reenforcement came from Area 10, but access remains a challenge.

“Number of shops, worth of goods destroyed not yet known. Cause of fire not yet known.

“Fire started from Informal Sector section of the market”.

Metro

EFCC Arrests 117 for Internet Fraud In Lagos

Published

3 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested no fewer than 117 internet fraudsters in Lagos State.

The commission stated that the suspects were arrested in a sting operation at a Regional hotel in the Iyana Ishasi area of the state.

The spokesperson for the commission, Dele Oyewale disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Oyewale said the suspects were nabbed after intelligence revealed that they were allegedly involved in a computer-related fraud.

The statement read, “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 117 suspected internet fraudsters in Lagos.

“The suspects were arrested at Regional Hotel, Iyana- Ishasi, Lagos in a sting operation, following verified intelligence about their alleged involvement in computer-related fraud. Items recovered from the suspects, at the point of arrest, include mobile phones, laptop computers and four cars.”

Oyewale said the suspects would be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The PUNCH reports that the Regional Hotel was one of the hotels where the EFCC operatives were accused of abusing a female hotel worker.

The EFCC chairman has ordered the arrest of the officers said to have perpetrated the offence as well as an investigation into the matter.