Metro

Pupils Battle Leaking Roofs, Reptiles In Ogun Public School

Published

2 months ago

October 20, 2023

Editor

Some parents in the Ayetoro Makun community in the Sagamu West Local Government Area of Ogun State have bemoaned the deplorable condition and poor facilities at the only public primary school situated in the area.

A visit to St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School which was said to have been established in 1916, it was observed that a building with three classrooms had been abandoned due to its bad state.

The PUNCH correspondent noticed that a substantial part of the roof had been removed by wind.

Overgrown grasses were also noticed around the building, leaving pupils at the mercy of reptiles.

It was learnt that the other building erected beside the deplorable one has only two classrooms housing about 150 pupils.

The Chairman of the school’s Parents-Teachers Association, Olasunkanmi Sodimu, during an interview with The PUNCH, decried the situation of the school, saying, “The primary school has been there even before I was born. There are no good classrooms and conducive learning environment for these children.”

Olasunkanmi, who is also a graduate of the school, said the maintenance of the school had been through communal efforts.

“During my administration, we employed extra teachers to teach these pupils and the community was paying their salary. We would levy their parents and some contributed money. But all our employees have left the school now.

“This is the only public primary school that we have in this community. Parents are no longer bringing their children to the school because there are no good facilities and equipment that would aid their learning,” Olasunkanmi told our correspondent.

Another parent who simply identified herself as Odewale, said, “The current condition of this school is not palatable. These children are not comfortable with their learning environment. The government should help us to rehabilitate this school.”

Contacted, the state Commissioner for Education, Ayobami Arigbabu, asked our correspondent to send a message.

He had yet to respond to the message sent to him as of the time of filing this story.

Metro

Fake Naira Notes In Circulation, CBN Warns Nigerians

Published

33 mins ago

December 8, 2023

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned Nigerians to be wary of counterfeit naira notes in circulation amid reports of currency shortage in the country.

In a statement released on Friday titled ‘Beware of Counterfeit Naira Banknotes in Circulation,’ the apex bank advised Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses, Bureau de Change, and the public to be vigilant and implement necessary precautions.

The Central Bank assures the public that it is working with law enforcement operatives to apprehend those responsible for circulating counterfeit currency.

The statement, in part, said, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to the circulation of counterfeit banknotes, significantly higher denominations, by some individuals for transactions in food markets and other commercial centers across major cities in the country.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 20(4) of the CBN Act (2007) as amended, states that: “It shall be an offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years for any person to falsify, make or counterfeit any bank note or coin issued by the Bank which is legal tender in Nigeria.”

“The CBN is constantly collaborating with relevant security and financial agencies to confiscate fake Naira banknotes and arrest and prosecute counterfeiters. Members of the public are also encouraged to report anyone suspected of having counterfeit naira notes to the nearest police station or branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, all Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses and Bureau de Change and the general public are enjoined to be more vigilant and take all necessary precautionary measures to curtail the acceptance and distribution of counterfeit notes,” the statement reads.

Metro

Three Operatives Injured As NDLEA Officers, Armed Hoodlums Clash In Edo Forest

Published

22 hours ago

December 7, 2023

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said its operatives repelled gunfire from armed hoodlums in Opuje, Edo State, as they sought to access forest warehouses storing psychoactive substances.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, shared on the agency’s X account on Thursday.

The incident followed a similar attack 11 months ago when NDLEA officers were ambushed during an operation, resulting in the arrest of suspects.

Opuje is known for large-scale cannabis cultivation, with drug cartels investing heavily in protecting their warehouses.

The statement said, “Following credible intelligence that the drug cartels had again stocked their warehouses in the forest to start distribution of the psychoactive substance to various parts of the country ahead of the yuletide season, teams of NDLEA officers were mobilized to enter the Edo forests and block the distribution of the illicit drug by destroying their warehouses.

“Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000kgs of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.

“The NDLEA teams, however, came under gunfire attack in the early hours of Monday 4th December when they approached the Opuje forest after the armed hoodlums had blocked all access roads in the community. The NDLEA operatives were able to exit the area after over two hours of gunfight with the armed hoodlums.

“Unfortunately, three of the officers were injured in the attack with one of them shot in the head while some of the vehicles used for the operation were riddled with bullets. The affected officers were rushed to the hospital for treatment while the critically injured one had a major surgery on Wednesday 6th December to remove the bullets in his brain.”

Metro

VIDEO: Policemen Demand Money From Foreign Female Biker

Published

23 hours ago

December 7, 2023

Editor

Some policemen have been sighted in a video demanding money from a female biker who was on a tour of Nigeria from the Netherlands.

The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday, said the officers were recorded along Moniya Road in Oyo State.

The officers had flagged down the biker, asking her where she was from and where she was heading.

The Dutch replied that she was from the Netherlands and she was on her way to Abuja, apparently surprising the two officers.

In the 1:26-minute video, the officers asked the woman to offer them money or whatever she had in her possession.

Interacting with the biker in pidgin, the officers said: “Wetin you bring come? Wetin you won give me. O yah give me something nah.”

The tourist appeared not to comprehend the officers’ message until they clearly said, “Give me money, money,” to which she asked, “Why?”

Reacting to the video shared by an X user, @Oyoaffairs, the Force PRO, Adejobi called on the Oyo State police command to look into the incident.

“Now that is along Moniya in Oyo, @OyoPoliceNG should take necessary steps on that. I have notified the PPRO Oyo of this. They need to be worked upon,” Adejobi reacted.

Watch video below:

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1732749914080194872?s=20