Metro

Flood: Residents Demand Proactive Efforts From Government, Relevant Agencies

Published

3 years ago

October 12, 2022

Residents of Osogbo, Osun State have called on the state government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA) and relevant agencies to prevent another flooding in the state.

This is given the recent warning issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to Southern states to expect high-intensity rainfall and riverine flooding in the remaining days of the rainy season.

The NiMet Director General, Professor Mansur Bako Matazu made this know in Abuja on Tuesday while speaking at a workshop organised by the agency in collaboration with the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) on Hydro-meteorological status and outlook system (HydroSOS).

A landlord, Kayode Simeon chatting with DAILY POST stated the call became necessary following the flooding that occurred in 2021 in some parts of the state capital in August and October and other parts of the state.

In his words, “The thing about floods is that the scale becomes bigger and larger as the years roll by. It may occur in a small way now and if not properly managed, the scale may increase the next time and the devastation may be too much to manage by then.

“I was made to understand that the rate of rainfall is increasing and this is the real issue.”

Oyewole Matthew on his own noted that the problem of flooding associated with rainfall is not new in Osogbo.

He recollected that in 2010, half of Osogbo was affected by a flood which repeated itself again in 2019.

“In 2010, the flooding that affected the capital Osogbo came with attendant loss of lives and properties. The state government of Rauf Aregbesola in 2011 had to declare an environmental state of emergency to the problem.

“In 2019, parts of the state capital experienced flooding which damaged lots of properties but no life was lost.

“The state government swung into action but the flood repeated itself again in 2021. We just woke up after that heavy rainfall in August and behold most of Osogbo was flooded.

“In October, it repeated itself but this time around not only in Osogbo but mostly in Ilesa town. The government went into action and dredged most rivers in the state.”

He called on the government not to wait until things get out of hand before they take action.

“We must not deceive ourselves. It is not certain that Osogbo is flood-prone and the warning of NiMet warns that rainfall will affect southern states again this year like in 2021. They warned in 2021 and it came to pass. They are wanting again in 2022, we must do all to avert disaster.

“It is no longer news that Kogi and Anambra states are suffering and I heard in the news that about 500 souls have perished due to the recent floods that have overtaken both states. Before such will befall us in Osun, the government should act fast!”

A house owner, Oluwaseun Babatunde stated that he and his family had to relocate from their house temporarily due to the flood.

“You see, we never knew where we built our house was flood-prone. In fact, some years earlier, it was totally safe. So we bought and developed the land until disaster struck. We had to move the little we could salvage out of the house when flood waters suddenly rushed in and disrupted our sleep in the middle of the night.”

The Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Olusola Oladepo was not available for comment on the subject matter as messages sent to him were not responded to.

Metro

NAFDAC Seals Illegal Chemical, Water Firm In Abuja

Published

6 hours ago

September 4, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) sealed a chemical and water packaging factory in the Damangaza district, Apo Waru, in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday.

Mr. Embugushiki Godiya, Head of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement unit in Abuja, said the factories were sealed following their illegal operation within their premises.

Godiya explained that the agency embarked on an enforcement operation within the Apo Waru area following intelligence gathered concerning the area.

He said that the water factory was discovered to be producing saturated water at night to evade detection.

He noted that when NAFDAC inspectors arrived, they found 88 bags of packaged water and traces of unauthorised production.

“This is an illegal factory, not certified by NAFDAC. Even the registration number on the product is fake. We are going to investigate further and apply the necessary sanctions,” Godiya explained.

The NAFDAC official stated that, similarly, in the same area, an illicit chemical laboratory operated by Ikechukwu Elijah was uncovered.

“According to reports, Elijah produces products ranging from disinfectants to air fresheners and even banned substances without regulatory approval.

“Initially, he denied ownership of the materials, but evidence found in his home, including his ID card, confirmed his involvement,” Godiya said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the operations, NAFDAC seized cylinders, sealing machines, and large containers of mixed chemicals as well as finished products ready for distribution.

NAN also reports that Elijah and one of his workers were arrested while the facility was sealed.

Godiya said that NAFDAC would not only prosecute the suspects but also investigate their supply chains.

“We want to know where he was getting these chemicals from, and who he was supplying to. Our major interest is to mop these products out of the market,” he said.

The agency also signalled it would examine the role of landlords who rent out properties for illegal manufacturing.

“If you own a house, you cannot claim ignorance of such activity. That is aiding and abetting, and it is punishable by law,” the NAFDAC official stressed.

He added that the agency would ensure that necessary sanctions were enforced.

Metro

Nine Suspected Cultists Arrested In Edo

Published

11 hours ago

September 4, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Special Security Squad in collaboration with other security agencies arrested nine suspected cultists and recovered firearms in Iguoshodin N’ Ikpemaba, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The coordinator of the squad, Idemudia Noah, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State governor, Fred Itua.

Noah in the statement said the suspected cultists were arrested after credible intelligence was received from residents.

He said operatives stormed the community in the early hours of September 3, 2025, following a distress call that members of a cult group were terrorising residents.

He added: “On arrival, our men moved swiftly and arrested nine suspects. A thorough search of the area led to the recovery of two Baretta pistols, two cut-to-size double-barrel guns, and live AK-47 ammunition.”

According to him, arms and ammunition were recovered from the premises of a building allegedly belonging to the Okaighele of Omi, Osazuwa Igbineweka, who has since been declared wanted by the police for allegedly constituting a threat to peace in the community.

He said: “Prior to this operation, we had received multiple reports that cult members were causing serious unrest in Omi. Our raid not only led to their arrest but also exposed the dangerous weapons they used to perpetrate crime.”

The coordinator said that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects being members of the Eiye confraternity, a cult group notorious for violent clashes and criminal activities across several Edo communities.

“From intelligence gathered and from the relief expressed by residents, it is clear that some of those arrested belong to the Eiye cult group. Their arrest has restored confidence among the people, who are pleased to see decisive action being taken.

“Among the weapons recovered were Baretta pistols, cut-to-size double-barrel shotguns, and AK-47 ammunition, all of which point to the extent of the threat posed by these individuals,” he noted.

Metro

Three Killed In Lagos Masquerader Festival Clash

Published

13 hours ago

September 4, 2025

Editor

At least three persons were brutally murdered during a masquerader festival that began on Sunday in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.

While the exact cause of the killings remains unclear, reports indicated that some members of the family involved in the festival, who are also believed to belong to various cult groups in Lagos, hijacked the event and turned it into a supremacy battle.

A resident of the community who craved anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the situation descended into chaos shortly after the festival ended.

“We had just finished the festival when a fight broke out among some boys suspected to be cultists. And before we knew it, they had started throwing bottles at one another while also wielding some dangerous weapons. Nobody could even wait to calm the situation other than to run for cover,” the resident narrated.

Videos of the violence, obtained by The PUNCH on Wednesday, showed heavy gunfire as suspected cultists chased one another along Lagos Street.

In one of the clips, at least five gunshots were heard, while no fewer than 10 assailants were seen gang-beating a victim.

Another resident who identified himself simply as Kazeem said the clash lasted for hours, causing panic among residents.

“The fight started in the evening and continued till midnight. Some of us could not sleep due to the intensity of the violence and loud noise from their voices and the destruction,” he said.

Naija Confra, an account known for showcasing cult-related violence in Nigeria, further highlighted the chaos.

It stated, “We received reports of a clash in Lagos Island that has been going on since Sunday, following a masquerade festival. The fight involved street gangs whose members are mostly cultists.”

In response to the clashes, the Lagos State Police Command, in a statement on Tuesday, announced tightened security across Lekki, Ajah, and surrounding areas, including Ogombo and Elemoro.

The measures, according to the command, were aimed at safeguarding lives and property while securing private and public investments.

The statement, signed by the command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, read, “As part of these measures, the Command has redeployed some Divisional Police Officers in the affected area, to bring new impetus towards curtailing crime and criminalities in the area and also improve on the operational efficiency and a proactive response to distress situations.

RES ALSO:Lagos Task Force Arrests 32 Drug Suspects In Midnight Raid

“To further reinforce the security, the Eko Strike Force, a specialized intervention unit, has been deployed to Lekki and Ajah to address all forms of crime and criminality in the Lekki area and its environs.

“The Lagos State Police Command calls on residents to cooperate fully with the intervention team to ensure the success of the operations and maintain safety and security for all.”

Hundeyin further disclosed that the command had launched a discreet investigation into the killings.

“The command wishes to inform the public that it has commenced a discreet investigation into the unfortunate incident that occurred on Sunday in Lekki Phase 1, where an inter-cult clash resulted in the death of three cultists.

“The clash occurred at a security duty post in an uninhabited open land space around Wole Olateju Street, involving members of rival cult groups at about 0500hrs. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, personally mobilised to the scene with joint police teams to attend to the situation and ensure swift action.

“The recently established Anti-Cultism Team and other Tactical teams under the Elemoro Area Command were immediately deployed to Lekki Phase 1, and several arrests of suspects linked to the crime were made in connection with the incident.”

According to Hundeyin, raids were carried out on several criminal hideouts in Lekki, leading to the arrest of 23 suspects.

Those arrested include: Frank Okpara (27), Friday Ebuka (27), Babatunde Mufutau (24), Suleiman Muri (25), Olamide Malik (24), Nwaka Lucky (34), Raphael Ashim (30), Wasiu Kareem (33), Sadiq Olabisi (40), Ibrahim Abdul (22), Ibrahim Aminu (37), Nasiru Musa (27), Friday Nwafor (51), Ahmed Fatai (26), Aro Abiola a.k.a. Zino (25), Tijani Shehu a.k.a. Abana (26), Gift Igedi (31), Ugochukwu Chike (30), Ridwan Alex (37), Happiness Otigbo (27), Abiodun Adegun (37), Adedayo Adeoti (27), and Afeez Ahmed (31).