Metro

Kaduna Gas Explosion: DPR Set To Prosecute Unlicensed Cooking Gas Retailers

Published

3 years ago

January 5, 2020

Following the gas explosion that claimed lives of no fewer than five persons in Kaduna on Saturday, the Department of Petroleum Resources, Sunday, vowed to shut down any illegal gas retailers across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

DPR’s Northwest Operations Controller, Alhaji Isa Tafida, while disclosing this, also added that operators of gas not licensed by the agency risk prosecution.

Addressing reporters shortly after on the spot assessment of the damage at the scene of the incident, Tafida expressed concern over the unwholesome activities of illegal retail gas vendors in the state.

The DPR boss lamented that the unfortunate incident happened few days after the agency went to sensitize the citizens of the state on the danger of patronizing illegal retail gas outlets in the state, warning the public against such activities.

According to him, the agency in collaboration with security agencies will go out to dislodge illegal retail gas outlet operators and prosecute them.

He noted that preliminary investigation indicated that the facility in question where the explosion took place was an illegal retailing gas vendor that “engages in illegal storage of LPG (cooking) and acetylene (industrial gas).

While describing the incident as unfortunate, Tafida said the agency would no longer tolerate illegal activities of gas retailers in the State and other states under the northwest zone comprising Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The DPR boss therefore appealed to residents to report any illegal gas vendor to avert further recurrence of the unfortunate incident with the view to protecting lives and properties.

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Metro

EFCC Arrests NCAA Director, Other Officials Over Alleged N2bn Duty Allowance Fraud

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested four top officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

They were taken into custody over alleged N2billion ‘Duty Tour Allowance’ (DTA) fraud, according to PRNigeria.

The suspects are Bilkisu Adamu Sani, Director of Finance and Accounts; Hart Benson Fimienye, Deputy General Manager, Treasury.

Others include Obene Jenbarimiema Turniel, Deputy General Manager (Management Accounts), and Nathaniel Terna Kaainjo, General Manager (Accounts and Stores).

Nathaniel was arrested on Thursday, March 16, while other officials were picked on Monday, March 20.

A team of EFCC investigators are questioning them at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

NCAA, the regulatory body for aviation in Nigeria, ensures safety of the sector and carries out oversight of airports, airspace, and meteorological services.

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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap INEC Electoral Officer In Zamfara With Election Results

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

The electoral officer in charge of Maradun Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Bashir Shagari, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Shagari, according to a source, was coming to INEC collation center in Gusau to deliver the results of the governorship election for Maradun Local Government when he was kidnapped along the road on Monday.

The source further revealed that the electoral officer was together with other INEC staff when they were stopped on a bridge near Maradun town and whisked away to an unknown destination.

Confirming the incident to The PUNCH, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Muktari Janyau, said the matter had been reported to the police headquarters.

Janyau said, “The resident electoral commissioner in charge of Zamfara State, Professor Sa’idu Babura Ahmed, has reported the issue to the police commissioner for appropriate action.”

The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, results from nine out of 14 local government areas have been announced and the opposition PDP is leading in seven local governments so far declared.

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Metro

Soldiers Shoot Two Policemen Dead, Injured Two In Taraba

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Two police officers attached to the Taraba State Command were killed by soldiers in Jalingo, the State capital, on Monday morning.

Two others were wounded and receiving treatment from gunshot wounds following a scuffle between men of the sister security agencies.

This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer for the State Command, Abdullahi Usman.

Usman said that the crisis broke out when a female police officer, who was reporting for duty at the INEC State headquarters in Jalingo, was stopped by a military man at a checkpoint close to the headquarters and asked for proper identification.

He said the misunderstanding that ensued was settled, and the female police officer proceeded to the Collation Centre, only for the soldier to go after her and drag her out forcefully, leading to pandemonium.

The PPRO said, “A very ugly incident happened this morning around 8:30am between a female police officer and a soldier. After the initial misunderstanding, the lady was allowed to proceed to her duty post, but later the soldier went back to drag her out. The thing is that he called for reinforcement from his office, and when it arrived, he had nothing to report and decided to create a situation.

“While we were trying to settle things and I was personally taken to one of the senior soldiers there, the soldiers suddenly started shooting. We were caught in the crossfire and had to run for our dear lives. The soldiers proceeded to the Command Headquarters here and shot two police officers, and went away with their riffles.

“One police officer who was going off duty was shot and killed instantly while another who was just reporting for duty and did not even know what was happening was also shot the moment they identified him as a policeman.

“As we speak, we have gotten reports that our men who are escorting election results or on various duties are being stopped at military checkpoints and harassed. They strip them naked and harass them even though they know nothing about what happened.

“For now, the Commissioner of Police,Yusuf A. Suleiman, and the Commander of 6 Brigade Jalingo have met and discussed and have agreed that a commission of enquiry will be set up to look into the real cause of this incident.”

NAN