Metro

Weeds, Faeces Take Over Abandoned 400- seater Lagos Theatre

Published

9 months ago

August 24, 2023

Editor

Weeds and faeces have taken over the 400-seater Lagos State Theatre located in the Oregun area of the state, which was destroyed by protesters during the EndSARS agitation.

It was gathered that all installations in the theatre that were meant to promote tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and the arts together with sports had been looted, with the facilities being overrun by faeces.

The theatre which was unveiled on April 24, 2019, by former President Muhammadu Buhari has remained fallow for three years since the destruction.

The PUNCH correspondent who visited the theatre, which was built by the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, observed that the entire premises, including the security building before the entrance into the theatre, had become a dumpsite.

It was also observed that the foyer between the three-apartment restroom and the staircase that led to the theatre itself was littered with faeces with stench oozing from the area.

When The PUNCH correspondent strolled into the main theatre, it was observed that a part of the roofing along the passage was dangling and nearing collapse, while the entire place was bushy.

A resident of the area identified simply as Azeez, who frequents the premises, claimed that the lootings were perpetrated by some miscreants during the protest after the place had been abandoned by the government.

“These two big slabs were where the generators used to be located. They removed all the engines and left the shed. The government only came here to take away empty soundproofing. There is nothing anyone can do to stop them. A lot of things happened.

“The soldiers and the policemen even came here at a point. Most of the installations were stolen during the protest. Some people from the ministry would come and take pictures and go. But nothing has happened since the building was burnt,” Azeez told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday.

Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Wunmi Seriki, dismissed the claim that the theatre had been abandoned, stating that the contract for the renovation of the building had been awarded.

“The theatre has not been abandoned. We are about to take action on the place. It is about to be renovated. It has been contracted out already. Work will soon start there.

“Although I cannot confirm the exact date, I can assure you that work will soon commence. I will let you know at a later date. We are aware that some of the installations and facilities have been vandalised since the time of the EndSARS,” she said.

However, the spokesperson for the State Ministry of Works, Mr. Odunuga, was not available to confirm this as of the time this report was filed.

Meanwhile, corroborating Seriki on the renovation of the theatre, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said the reconstruction of the theatre would begin in earnest.

“It is still on the table. I cannot give you a timeline, but something will be done about the theatre soon. Don’t forget that it was not the only place that was vandalised at the time. They burnt a lot of the BRT buses,” Akosile said.
PUNCH

Metro

Police Rescue Two Toddlers Locked Up in Lagos Apartment

Published

5 mins ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued two infants who were locked up in an apartment on Adelakun Street, in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.

The toddlers, The PUNCH gathered, were found in a state of neglect when the rescue operation took place.

A rights group, Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, alleged that the mother of the infants had been grappling with substance abuse.

The Chief Operating Officer of the group, Ebenezer Omejalile, who disclosed this to our correspondent on Sunday, said the residents in the area alerted the group to the development.

He said, “According to the informants, the mother, purportedly struggling with substance abuse issues, would lock her children inside their apartment and remain absent for the entirety of the day.

“These two minors were left to fend for themselves. They eat, defecate, sleep and wake up locked up in the room yet nothing was being done. The DPO of the Red House Police Station was duly informed about it and the infants were rescued.”

In a video watched by our correspondent, one of the infants could be seen crying in the locked-up apartment. In a separate video, the children were seen eating after the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, Omejalile said it was the second time the police would rescue the toddlers in such a situation.

According to him, the rescue operation was carried out by the former Divisional Police Officer but the children were returned to their mother after being placed under the care of government authorities.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Kidnap A’Ibom Monarch

He said, “The incident was initially reported at the same police station several months ago. The then DPO promptly responded to the distress call and rescued the babies from their mother’s custody.

“Shockingly, despite the initial intervention by law enforcement, it has come to light that the children were subsequently returned to their mother’s care. This decision has left many baffled, including the former DPO who ensured the babies were placed under the care of government agencies.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development.

He said, “The children were rescued. They are now in safe hands.”

Metro

Army storms Sambisa Forest, Rescues 387 Hostages

Published

41 mins ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

ollowing intensive operations, the Nigeria Army has announced that troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ North-East have rescued 387 hostages held in Sambisa Forest.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna, addressed the troops after receiving the hostages at Awulari River side of Konduga local government area of Borno state near Sambisa Forest at the week end.

According to General Haruna, “the rescue operation was conducted based on highly sensitive and valuable intelligence.”

He explained that the 387 rescued persons were civilians, including women and children, who were forced to stay in the forest by Boko Haram insurgents for over a decade ago, adding that the rescued ones were not members of the insurgents.

The military, he added, has also recovered weapons, emeralds, and other equipment from the insurgents, who initially seized them from soldiers and other security operatives.

He pointed out that during the operation, many Boko Haram fighters surrendered to the Army, while others are still surrendering.

“The clearance operation, named Operation Desert Sanity III, involved troops from the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, 26 Task Force Brigade (114 Battalion), and 199 Special Forces Battalion. They Conducted over 10 days Operation, it resulted in the recapture of major Boko Haram enclaves, including Uqba, Sabilul Huda, Lawanti, Njimia, and Iraqi, all in Sambisa Forest,” Haruna stated.

The GOC further stressed that the operation will continue to ensure that all parts of the Sambisa Forest are safe, allowing farmers to access their farmlands and reducing criminality in the North-East region.

He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and the Theatre Commander Joint Task Force ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Waidi Shuaibu, for providing an enabling environment for the operation’s success.

he then urged the troops not to relent until all parts of Sambisa Forest are safe for Nigerians.

Most of the rescued victims who spoke to our Correspondent commend military for their sacrifices, which led to their rescue after many years in captivity.

Metro

Osun Football Coach In DSS Net For Attempting To Sodomize Player

Published

3 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Editor

A football coach working with a male football team in Osogbo, Osun State, simply identified as Adebisi, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services while attempting to sodomise one of his players.

Sources in the Isale Osun Area of Osogbo, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said the suspect was arrested in the area last Wednesday by DSS operatives, who acted on tip-off.

It was further learned that Adebisi met the victim, identified simply as Michael during a training session at Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, and took him to a secluded place, where he attempted to touch his genitals.

But while that was on, a guard working in the school, said to be moving around, suddenly appeared, and thus frustrated the plan of the coach, The PUNCH reports.

The victim, while narrating his encounter with the coach said, “What happened is that I met Coach Adebisi at the playground of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo.

“I know him and some of his ex-players very well. I went there to train. After training, he took me to a secluded area within the compound and he wanted to touch my genitals.

“I was displeased. I didn’t allow him. When I told a few other players, they condemned his action and advised me that I should block him and stop chatting with him.

“I also told an elderly person who asked me to unblock him but the matter was reported to the DSS office in Osogbo.

“So, I played along and we started chatting again. About two Saturdays ago, he invited me to Fakunle Playground again.”

He continued, “After training, he took me to a secluded area and showed me his private part. While that was on, a security guard passed by and saw us.

“But the guard didn’t know what was going on. We left the place. Last Wednesday, he invited me to a place around Isale Osun, Osogbo. I told the DSS operatives about it.

“I met Adebisi in a house there. I was told the place belonged to his brother. I was with him in the room.

“We were gisting, but later, he moved towards me and told me to remove my clothes and trousers and I obeyed him.

“For the period I was with him, I was on chat with the captain of my team updating him about happenings.

“He was touching my genitals. Because he felt I was not aroused, he brought out his mobile phone and played porn videos to put me in the mood. We were still in the room when some DSS operatives came in and arrested him. Since then, he has been in their custody.”

When contacted, the Director, of DSS’s Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Dr Peter Afunaya, confirmed Adebisi’s arrest.

Afunaya in a message sent to our correspondent said, “The investigation is still ongoing. Besides him, many other human traffickers were intercepted.”