Metro

We’re Under Siege, Ondo Community Raises Alarm

Published

11 months ago

June 15, 2023

Editor

...How my father was killed- Son

Leaders and residents of the Ijagba community of the Ose council area of Ondo state, have cried out over the persistent attacks and kidnapping of the people of the communities by bandits.

They said that the community has been under siege of the kidnappers for the past three months.

The Prime Minister of the community, High Chief Sunday Ogoh, said that “the bandits have infiltrated the area, and their nefarious activities have sent fears and anxiety to residents of the community.

Ogoh said that “two recent kidnappings in the area occurring in quick succession indicated that the hoodlums have invaded the community and must be checkmated before they cause more havoc.

“Two indigenes of the town, father and son, Ohiremen Isaac Odeh and Solomon Isaac Odeh, were abducted some three days ago, while the father died in the captives of the kidnappers, the son was released after payment of N400,000 as ransom.

“A younger brother of the lawmaker representing the the Federal constituency, Hon Timehin Adelegbe, Bola Adelegbe was killed by the hoodlums after collecting ransom.”

Ogoh explained that the sad incidents and continuous attacks have destabilised the community.

“Many residents now live in palpable fear due to threats from the attackers, while some people had fled the towns.

“In the last two years, we have lost over 20 community members to the incessant attacks. Aside from Mr Odeh, we lost one of our brothers, Bola Adelegbe to the attacks by the gunmen.

“As a result of this, we are appealing to the state government to give urgently come to our aid.

“They should give us a strong military base that would be manning our roads to reduce this incessant kidnapping and killings in our communities.

“As we speak now, we cannot even visit our farms because of these attacks. These gunmen who are herdsmen have taken over everywhere.

“They always hide by the farm road and swap on our people and abduct them for ransom.

“One of their hideouts is the tick forest in Okeluse, which they use as their den. Anytime they are kidnapped, they will always ask for ransom and if you don’t give them the money within two days, they will kill the victim. We have been experiencing this for the last two years now.

“We have written the state government on several occasions but we are not getting the response we want. So, want security provide for us because we are tired,” he said.

“This protest becomes imperative to intimate the whole world about the incessant killings in the area, saying most people had abandoned their properties and ran away from the town.”

Also speaking, the son of the deceased and a member of the community, Solomon Odeh, narrated how he was kidnapped with his father, explaining that the gunmen tied him with rope and murdered his father after a ransom was paid.

“But I was later released not until my father was killed after paying N400,000 as ransom,” he added.

Reacting, the state police command spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said the security agents are after the perpetrators.

Odunlami said that: “We are aware of the situation in the community and we are on top of the situation with a view to arrest those behind the attacks. I can assure you that with our investigation we will arrest the perpetuators.”

According to her: “The police are on top of the situation in the affected communities and we are already after the perpetrators. I can assure you that, they will soon be apprehended.”

Metro

Truck Crushes Five-year-old Girl In Lagos

Published

10 mins ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

The Police Command in Lagos State says a five-year-old girl, simply identified as Bosede, was crushed to death by a truck while crossing the Iganmu-Apapa Expressway with her mother.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the newsmen on Sunday.

Hundeyin said the information about the accident was received by the Iponri Police Division on Saturday at about 11.30 a.m.

He said the accident happened at Iganmu under the bridge, inward Apapa, involving a truck driven by yet to be identified driver.

The spokesperson said the girl and her mother were crossing the expressway when the truck hit and crushed her head, killing her on the spot.

Hundeyin said the police traffic officers from the division visited the scene and removed the corpse for burial by the family.

He said an investigation is ongoing for the possible arrest of the fleeing driver.

Metro

Customs Intercept N8.7m Smuggled Petrol En Route Benin Republic

Published

11 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, have intercepted 12,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit known is petrol worth N8,750,000 along the Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway en route to Benin Republic.

According to a statement and pictures shared on X.com by the NCS on Sunday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, revealed this at the command’s headquarters on Friday.

The statement partly read, “At about 2330hrs on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, while on joint patrol based on credible intelligence, we received the movement of two boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in sacks. Upon receipt of the information, the team moved into Isalu Creeks Badagry Waterway.

“The Customs Area Controller stated that careful examination of the seizure at the Command Headquarters revealed ‘177 sacks and 61 kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing 12,500 Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at N8,750,000.”

Bamisaiye was reported to have warned smugglers to desist from their acts or risk arrest, stating that the action of the smugglers contravenes Sections 245 and 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

He was quoted as saying, “There’s a strong warning to the economic importance of this kind of seizure at a time of fuel scarcity cannot be over-emphasised.

“People are suffering due to artificial scarcity, but they are busy smuggling these products outside the country to make money. It’s either they stop this act, or we continue to arrest them. We have zero tolerance for this act.”

Similarly, the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the NCS said it also intercepted 12,435 litres of PMS worth N10.8 million being illegally exported to Cameroon.

Metro

Customs Intercepts N10m Worth Petrol En Route Cameroon Illegally

Published

12 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, has said it intercepted 12,435 litres of Premium Motor Spirit worth N10.8m being illegally exported to Cameroon.

In a statement on Saturday, the command said that the PMS was intercepted within two weeks.

The command added in the statement said the product was packed in 491 jerrycans, 25 litres each and eight jerrycans 20 litres each.

The Customs Area Comptroller in charge of the command, Garba Bashir, explained that the PMS was intercepted alongside the means of conveyance.

“The officers, while on anti-smuggling operations along the command frontiers within two weeks, recorded five incidents of interception of premium motor spirit on its way to the neighbouring country, Cameroon

“The petrol and the means of conveyance were valued at NN10.8m,” he said.

The CAC stated that no suspect was arrested, adding that the perpetrators abandoned the items and absconded in an attempt to avoid arrest.

Bashir added that the seizures of the items were in line with sections 150 and 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, “and considering the facts that the command’s territorial borders are officially closed.”

He stated that the petrol had been auctioned due to its inflammable nature.

He added that smuggling activities have done more harm than good to the nation.

“It hinders our national growth, strangles our trade policies with regards to revenue, foreign investment, preservation of domestic trade and growth, food security, and public security,” Bashir said.

“We want to unwaveringly tell the smugglers that our operatives are strategically repositioned along the borderlines to fasten their exit out of this illicit business,” he added.

He solicited the support of the border communities in the fight against smuggling.

The Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, Yola, of the NCS is one of the commands under Zone B Customs, headquartered in Kaduna.