DIG Ganiyu Dawodu Slumps, Dies
By Yemi Akinsuyi
The Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim has announced the sudden death of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Investigation (D Department), Mr. Ganiyu Ali Dawodu,
Ringim said the death occurred on Thursday in Lagos when the late DIG along with his friends visited another friend of theirs in his hotel room. Late Dawodu who sources said had been having problems with his heart slumped and died during the visit.
He was born on the 26th of June 1953 in Lagos and was appointed as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1981 after his graduation from University of Ibadan where he bagged B.Sc. in Sociology.
He served in several states as a Senior Police Officer and these include Commissioner of Police in Osun, Sokoto and Kano states.
He also served as Assistant Inspector General of Police in Zone 1 Kano, Zone 12 Bauchi and AIG in charge of Force Intelligence Unit until his promotion to Deputy Inspector General in charge of Force Criminal Investigation Department in September 2010.
Dawodu was survived by an aged father, wives, children, brothers and sisters.
Tags: News, Featured, Nigeria
Friday, 16 December 2011
• IGP Orders Probe Of DIG’s Death
Saturday, 17 December 2011 00:00 From John-Abba Ogbodo, (Abuja) and Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) News - National
THESE are trying times for security. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, admitted this yesterday after reflecting on the serious security threats in the country and noted that Nigeria was going through trying times with a charge to officers and men of the Force to rise to the challenges.
Ringim gave the charge after postponing his meeting with top officers of the Force due to the sudden death of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of investigation, (D Department) Mr. Ganiyu Ali Dawodu.
He also charged police officers and men to ensure regular check on their health with a view to remaining healthy at all times. He has however ordered a probe into the DIG’s death.
“This is a very critical period for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as an institution and the country in general. We have security challenges.
“We have acts of terrorism being committed especially against security agencies. We have given instruction that you should live to the challenges that we have.
“We have the issue of militants demanding so many things. We have issue of bunkering and illegal refineries, which are crippling economic activities in our creeks.
“We have challenges of various armed groups breaking into our banks. On the civil side, we have people inciting others.”
On the roads, he said: “We have all kinds of mishaps. These are the challenges and the NPF being the first security outfit to deal with them, we can not afford to fail,” he said.
Ringim charged state commissioners of police to devise various strategies that would combat crime in this yuletide season .
“Christmas and New Year celebrations are coming. Make appropriate deployment and make sure that the officers are where they are posted. This is a trying period,” he reiterated.
After leading the senior officers in observing a minute silence in honour of the late DIG, Ringim charged officers and men of the Force to engage in regular medical check up.
He said the Force had ordered an investigation into the circumstance of his death “so that the records could be established.”
He added: “We need to reflect and draw a good lesson from his death.”
Meanwhile , an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, has re-assured the security of lives and property in Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States .
Abubakar gave the assurance yesterday at the Government House, Maiduguri, where he was briefing Governor Kashim Shettima on the measures the police and other security agents had put in place protect people’s lives and property in Zone 12, comprising Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States.
He said “We are here in Borno and the other two states in the zone to critically assess the security challenges facing our officers and men.
He added that the security challenges in the zone had to be addressed by re-strategising and consolidating on the measures being put in place to check both Boko Haram insurgency and other bandits.
Saturday, 17 December 2011 00:00 From John-Abba Ogbodo, (Abuja) and Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) News - National
THESE are trying times for security. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, admitted this yesterday after reflecting on the serious security threats in the country and noted that Nigeria was going through trying times with a charge to officers and men of the Force to rise to the challenges.
Ringim gave the charge after postponing his meeting with top officers of the Force due to the sudden death of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of investigation, (D Department) Mr. Ganiyu Ali Dawodu.
He also charged police officers and men to ensure regular check on their health with a view to remaining healthy at all times. He has however ordered a probe into the DIG’s death.
“This is a very critical period for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as an institution and the country in general. We have security challenges.
“We have acts of terrorism being committed especially against security agencies. We have given instruction that you should live to the challenges that we have.
“We have the issue of militants demanding so many things. We have issue of bunkering and illegal refineries, which are crippling economic activities in our creeks.
“We have challenges of various armed groups breaking into our banks. On the civil side, we have people inciting others.”
On the roads, he said: “We have all kinds of mishaps. These are the challenges and the NPF being the first security outfit to deal with them, we can not afford to fail,” he said.
Ringim charged state commissioners of police to devise various strategies that would combat crime in this yuletide season .
“Christmas and New Year celebrations are coming. Make appropriate deployment and make sure that the officers are where they are posted. This is a trying period,” he reiterated.
After leading the senior officers in observing a minute silence in honour of the late DIG, Ringim charged officers and men of the Force to engage in regular medical check up.
He said the Force had ordered an investigation into the circumstance of his death “so that the records could be established.”
He added: “We need to reflect and draw a good lesson from his death.”
Meanwhile , an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, has re-assured the security of lives and property in Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States .
Abubakar gave the assurance yesterday at the Government House, Maiduguri, where he was briefing Governor Kashim Shettima on the measures the police and other security agents had put in place protect people’s lives and property in Zone 12, comprising Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States.
He said “We are here in Borno and the other two states in the zone to critically assess the security challenges facing our officers and men.
He added that the security challenges in the zone had to be addressed by re-strategising and consolidating on the measures being put in place to check both Boko Haram insurgency and other bandits.
Bank robbers terrorise South-West states
Written by Comfort Oseghale
When Ade Omotara went to cash some money she needed urgently for some purchases penultimate Monday in Lagere, Ile-Ife, Osun State, little did she know that her ordeal of being unable to have money would last the whole week.
The reason was that all the banks in Ife shut their doors to customers from that day on account of the information that robbers would attack them. Seeing that the robbers meant business, all the banks closed up, leaving customers in limbo.
Though Wema Bank opened three days later, it was only for a few hours with a heavy presence of security men.
The same thing happened in Ilesa, a distance of about 40km from Ile-Ife.
In recent times, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Osun states have had one thing in common besides being in the South-West.
Banks in the respective state capitals and many of the towns in those states had from the last week of November regularly shut their doors to customers for fear of being attacked by armed robbers, who were said to have written letters to the institutions that they were coming to raid them.
The spate of robbery attacks which these commercial banks had endured for some time had left the police helpless and grasping at straws. The commercial banks operating in major towns in Ogun State had been closed for 10 days, starting with the ones in Sagamu. While bank customers groaned under the artificial cash crunch, the bank operators stood their ground not to reopen for business until their safety could be guaranteed.
Several banks operating in Abeokuta, Ilaro, Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye, Sagamu, Ota, Ifo and Ijebu-Igbo were all said to have come under robbery attacks last month. At the Onabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, three lives were lost when armed men invaded several banks on the campus. A 20-man gang was said to have raided five banks in an operation that lasted 45 minutes after blowing up the security doors of the banks with dynamites. Around the same period, some commercial banks at Sagamu suffered the same fate after armed robbers struck. In all these attacks, huge sums of cash were reportedly carted away, while lives were lost in the process.
For residents living in Ife and Ilesa, the last three months have been one of terror as armed robbers launched an unrelenting campaign against commercial banks. Last September, armed robbers numbering about 50 attacked four banks at Oke-Odo, carting away millions of naira. The robbers, who reportedly came in three buses and a Mazda car, overwhelmed the policemen who came to the scene. A police inspector was reportedly killed in the attack. A few days later, another robbery attack was launched in the heart of the town on two new generation banks. The robbers reportedly made away with an unspecified amount.
These bank workers were so traumatised by the reports of these attacks that a rumour of an impending armed robbery attack forced all banks to shut their doors last week again. Even banks located within the Obafemi Awolowo University campus were not spared: students who had arrived early with the hope of making withdrawals were greatly disappointed as the banks were locked. In a show of force, the police command, Osun State, reportedly mounted roadblocks at strategic locations within and outside the town. A patrol team was deployed to put the threat under check; however that did not convince the banks to reopen for business.
In Akure, four persons lost their lives last month when a 15-man gang attacked a new generation bank. In an operation that reportedly lasted an hour, dynamites were used to blow open the bank’s bullet-proof doors.
Although three of the gang members were arrested by the police who gave chase, the rest were able to escape with their loot. The experience has since set all bank operators in Akure on edge. Things came to a head after a robbery attack on the Idanre branch of a first generation bank last week: all commercial banks shut their doors in protest of the unrelenting attacks.
Following the trend in Ogun, Osun and Ondo, bank operators in Ibadan followed suit, shutting their doors when rumours of impending armed robbery attacks made the rounds. At no time has the deficiencies of the police been more apparent than now.
Even as the police commands in the affected states have remained helpless, there has been no word from the Inspector-General of Police, apart from the 300 mobile policemen he sent to Ogun State to save the situation. Yet, the major burden has been left for the South-West governors and the respective police commissioners to fashion a way out of their dilemma.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, in an attempt to calm frayed nerves, was quoted as saying that plans were under way to acquire armoured personnel carriers. He said, "Let me assure you that we as a government are more concerned. I can tell you that we have taken delivery of one or two APCs and another 10 units are on the way. Ultimately, we plan to have about 30 units. But you know the huge investment required; that is why we are trying to see how we can partner with the people for assistance."
Published reports of a meeting held between Ondo and senior bank officials in THE PUNCH on Tuesday had focused on the strategies to get commercial banks re-open for business. The Commissioner for Finance, Chief Yele Ogundipe, who presided over the meeting, had explained that the government would continue to invest in the maintenance and sustenance of internal security in the state.
Bankers and security agencies at the meeting were assured that the state government would acquire Close Circuit Televisions and mount them in major streets for community surveillance. Ogundipe said, "The state has taken delivery of five new Armoured Personnel Carriers to boost the internal security network during festive period and plans are underway to purchase more APCs."
Clearly, the underlying theme was the funding of the police commands, which has over the years been a recurring decimal in public discourses on their inability to combat crime.
Written by Comfort Oseghale
When Ade Omotara went to cash some money she needed urgently for some purchases penultimate Monday in Lagere, Ile-Ife, Osun State, little did she know that her ordeal of being unable to have money would last the whole week.
The reason was that all the banks in Ife shut their doors to customers from that day on account of the information that robbers would attack them. Seeing that the robbers meant business, all the banks closed up, leaving customers in limbo.
Though Wema Bank opened three days later, it was only for a few hours with a heavy presence of security men.
The same thing happened in Ilesa, a distance of about 40km from Ile-Ife.
In recent times, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Osun states have had one thing in common besides being in the South-West.
Banks in the respective state capitals and many of the towns in those states had from the last week of November regularly shut their doors to customers for fear of being attacked by armed robbers, who were said to have written letters to the institutions that they were coming to raid them.
The spate of robbery attacks which these commercial banks had endured for some time had left the police helpless and grasping at straws. The commercial banks operating in major towns in Ogun State had been closed for 10 days, starting with the ones in Sagamu. While bank customers groaned under the artificial cash crunch, the bank operators stood their ground not to reopen for business until their safety could be guaranteed.
Several banks operating in Abeokuta, Ilaro, Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye, Sagamu, Ota, Ifo and Ijebu-Igbo were all said to have come under robbery attacks last month. At the Onabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, three lives were lost when armed men invaded several banks on the campus. A 20-man gang was said to have raided five banks in an operation that lasted 45 minutes after blowing up the security doors of the banks with dynamites. Around the same period, some commercial banks at Sagamu suffered the same fate after armed robbers struck. In all these attacks, huge sums of cash were reportedly carted away, while lives were lost in the process.
For residents living in Ife and Ilesa, the last three months have been one of terror as armed robbers launched an unrelenting campaign against commercial banks. Last September, armed robbers numbering about 50 attacked four banks at Oke-Odo, carting away millions of naira. The robbers, who reportedly came in three buses and a Mazda car, overwhelmed the policemen who came to the scene. A police inspector was reportedly killed in the attack. A few days later, another robbery attack was launched in the heart of the town on two new generation banks. The robbers reportedly made away with an unspecified amount.
These bank workers were so traumatised by the reports of these attacks that a rumour of an impending armed robbery attack forced all banks to shut their doors last week again. Even banks located within the Obafemi Awolowo University campus were not spared: students who had arrived early with the hope of making withdrawals were greatly disappointed as the banks were locked. In a show of force, the police command, Osun State, reportedly mounted roadblocks at strategic locations within and outside the town. A patrol team was deployed to put the threat under check; however that did not convince the banks to reopen for business.
In Akure, four persons lost their lives last month when a 15-man gang attacked a new generation bank. In an operation that reportedly lasted an hour, dynamites were used to blow open the bank’s bullet-proof doors.
Although three of the gang members were arrested by the police who gave chase, the rest were able to escape with their loot. The experience has since set all bank operators in Akure on edge. Things came to a head after a robbery attack on the Idanre branch of a first generation bank last week: all commercial banks shut their doors in protest of the unrelenting attacks.
Following the trend in Ogun, Osun and Ondo, bank operators in Ibadan followed suit, shutting their doors when rumours of impending armed robbery attacks made the rounds. At no time has the deficiencies of the police been more apparent than now.
Even as the police commands in the affected states have remained helpless, there has been no word from the Inspector-General of Police, apart from the 300 mobile policemen he sent to Ogun State to save the situation. Yet, the major burden has been left for the South-West governors and the respective police commissioners to fashion a way out of their dilemma.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, in an attempt to calm frayed nerves, was quoted as saying that plans were under way to acquire armoured personnel carriers. He said, "Let me assure you that we as a government are more concerned. I can tell you that we have taken delivery of one or two APCs and another 10 units are on the way. Ultimately, we plan to have about 30 units. But you know the huge investment required; that is why we are trying to see how we can partner with the people for assistance."
Published reports of a meeting held between Ondo and senior bank officials in THE PUNCH on Tuesday had focused on the strategies to get commercial banks re-open for business. The Commissioner for Finance, Chief Yele Ogundipe, who presided over the meeting, had explained that the government would continue to invest in the maintenance and sustenance of internal security in the state.
Bankers and security agencies at the meeting were assured that the state government would acquire Close Circuit Televisions and mount them in major streets for community surveillance. Ogundipe said, "The state has taken delivery of five new Armoured Personnel Carriers to boost the internal security network during festive period and plans are underway to purchase more APCs."
Clearly, the underlying theme was the funding of the police commands, which has over the years been a recurring decimal in public discourses on their inability to combat crime.
Commission dismisses two senior policemen for misconduct
Written by Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
The Police Service Commission has dismissed from service two senior policemen for acts of professional misconduct.
The commission, at the end of its meeting in Abuja on Thursday, approved the dismissal of Babatunde Jonathan and Sheikh Usman Umar, both Chief Superintendent of Police.
The PSC also approved the promotion of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hassan Biu, to the rank of Commissioner of Police with effect from December 15, 2011 based on the Inspector-General of Police’s recommendation.
Similarly, nine other officers were reprimanded, while a Deputy Superintendent of Police had his rank reduced to Assistant Superintendent of Police for conduct unexpected of a senior police officer.
The chairman of the commission, Parry Osayande, said the PSC would always reward hard work and diligence with elevation, while all acts against police conduct would not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, has inaugurated the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry with a call on the force to take an advantage of the advancement in technological innovations to protect lives and property.
He called for the integration of the BCMR with the new driving licence database and the National Communication Commission database for effective security system, adding that a proper utilisation of these databases would help to detect stolen vehicles and reduce car theft in the country.
The IG, Hafiz Ringim, said the upgraded BCMR would provide first-hand information and authentic database for police operational guide on crime prevention and detection in place of reliance on secondary data hitherto provided the force by other agencies.
The Police Service Commission has dismissed from service two senior policemen for acts of professional misconduct.
The commission, at the end of its meeting in Abuja on Thursday, approved the dismissal of Babatunde Jonathan and Sheikh Usman Umar, both Chief Superintendent of Police.
The PSC also approved the promotion of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hassan Biu, to the rank of Commissioner of Police with effect from December 15, 2011 based on the Inspector-General of Police’s recommendation.
Similarly, nine other officers were reprimanded, while a Deputy Superintendent of Police had his rank reduced to Assistant Superintendent of Police for conduct unexpected of a senior police officer.
The chairman of the commission, Parry Osayande, said the PSC would always reward hard work and diligence with elevation, while all acts against police conduct would not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, has inaugurated the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry with a call on the force to take an advantage of the advancement in technological innovations to protect lives and property.
He called for the integration of the BCMR with the new driving licence database and the National Communication Commission database for effective security system, adding that a proper utilisation of these databases would help to detect stolen vehicles and reduce car theft in the country.
The IG, Hafiz Ringim, said the upgraded BCMR would provide first-hand information and authentic database for police operational guide on crime prevention and detection in place of reliance on secondary data hitherto provided the force by other agencies.
Corruption biggest industry in Nigeria –ICPC boss
Written by FRIDAY OLOKOR
The acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, on Friday in Abuja dismissed criticisms that the commission had become a toothless bulldog, saying his pedigree would speak for him.
He said critics who had been insinuating that the ICPC had become weak and could not ‘bite’ like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission would soon know the truth about his profile as an anti-graft czar.
Nta told journalists after his inaugural meeting with the employees of the commission that corruption was “the biggest industry in Nigeria.”
He was reacting to questions about the innovations he hoped to inject into the anti-corruption war in Nigeria.
He said there was a strong need to put a check on cases of corruption, which, he claimed had probably become the biggest industry in the country.
Nta was appointed the ICPC acting chairman by President Goodluck Jonathan on November 29 after Mr. Francis Elechi, whose nomination was confirmed by the Senate as the commission’s chairman, was suspended because of alleged security reports against him.
He said, “I am going to be difficult to predict; the pedigree aspect of me will be defined in the next few weeks but I must sound this to all staff that it is not going to be business as usual.
“What this implies is that people should not take things for granted and say because they are my bosom friends they can do things contrary to the desired expectations.”
The ICPC boss advocated a synergy in dealing with issues of corruption in the country, adding that the nation’s population, which had been unofficially put at 167 million, required as many agencies as possible to effectively tackle corruption.
While reiterating that the commission would explore legal means in tackling corruption despite some logistic constraints, Nta pledged to partner with the media and civil society organisations in his assignment.
He said, “Let us put it in this other way that corruption is probably the biggest industry in Nigeria today because money is being lost. With the level of population growth today, we need as many bodies as possible to tackle corruption.”
He said instead of merging the agency with other anti-corruption bodies such as the EFCC, Nigeria needed more in line with global trends.
The acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, on Friday in Abuja dismissed criticisms that the commission had become a toothless bulldog, saying his pedigree would speak for him.
He said critics who had been insinuating that the ICPC had become weak and could not ‘bite’ like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission would soon know the truth about his profile as an anti-graft czar.
Nta told journalists after his inaugural meeting with the employees of the commission that corruption was “the biggest industry in Nigeria.”
He was reacting to questions about the innovations he hoped to inject into the anti-corruption war in Nigeria.
He said there was a strong need to put a check on cases of corruption, which, he claimed had probably become the biggest industry in the country.
Nta was appointed the ICPC acting chairman by President Goodluck Jonathan on November 29 after Mr. Francis Elechi, whose nomination was confirmed by the Senate as the commission’s chairman, was suspended because of alleged security reports against him.
He said, “I am going to be difficult to predict; the pedigree aspect of me will be defined in the next few weeks but I must sound this to all staff that it is not going to be business as usual.
“What this implies is that people should not take things for granted and say because they are my bosom friends they can do things contrary to the desired expectations.”
The ICPC boss advocated a synergy in dealing with issues of corruption in the country, adding that the nation’s population, which had been unofficially put at 167 million, required as many agencies as possible to effectively tackle corruption.
While reiterating that the commission would explore legal means in tackling corruption despite some logistic constraints, Nta pledged to partner with the media and civil society organisations in his assignment.
He said, “Let us put it in this other way that corruption is probably the biggest industry in Nigeria today because money is being lost. With the level of population growth today, we need as many bodies as possible to tackle corruption.”
He said instead of merging the agency with other anti-corruption bodies such as the EFCC, Nigeria needed more in line with global trends.
POLICE DIG dies IN LAGOS HOTEL
BY Patience Ogbo
Barely one week after the Nigeria Police Force lost Sunday Bada a famous sprinter and a superintendent of police to the cold hand of death, another high rank officer , Ganiyu Dawodu, a Deputy Inspector – General of police (DIG) has allegedly slump and died of a suspected heart disease .
DIG Dawodu allegedly died in an undisclosed hotel room at Ikorodu on Thursday.
Until his death, DIG Dawodu was in charge of “D” department of the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID); the lightest investigating arm of the Nigeria Police.
Dawodu was in Lagos where he represented the Inspector General of police – Hafiz Ringim in the public presentation of a new crime drama series called “CASE FILE” a production of Bicommunication limited which also produces the police documentary “Crime Fighter-the police and you”.
Mr. Dawodu was full of life and cracked jokes at the event which was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Ikeja, on Thursday; he granted a press interview at the end of the programme.
It was gathered that after the event, DIG Dawodu went to his hotel room with an unnamed female Deputy Superintendent of police, (DSP) who allegedly came to visit him from Port Harcourt.
The said police woman raised the alarm about midnight that the DIG was unable to breathe- efforts to rush him to the hospital was futile as he had allegedly died before help could reach him.
It was further gathered that the late DIG had returned to the country after visiting South Africa for medical treatment over an undisclosed heart disease.
A police officer attached to the Homicide department Panti Yaba disclosed that the remains of the late DIG has been removed from the hotel room and deposited at a public mortuary for autopsy.
Reacting to the sudden death of DIG Dawodu, the Inspector General of police Hafiz Ringim confirmed the death.
Mr. Ringim in an obituary publication on the police official website said the Force regrets the death of DIG Dawodu
The message read “The Inspector General of police Hafiz Ringim on behalf of the Police management regrets to announce the death of DIG Ganiyu Dawodu NPM, mni” Mr. Ringim, also while addressing senior police officers in Abuja on Friday urged the officers to go for medical checkups.
“Let me seize this opportunity to appeal to you to personally take your health conditions seriously; you should go for medical check up so that you can carry out your job effectively” Ringim said. The officers held a one minute silence for the repose of the soul of the late DIG.
DIG Dawodu until his death was among six other officers promoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector – General of police (AIG) in September last year.
Reacting to the late DIG’s death, officers and men of the Lagos State police command expressed shock and sadness over the death of the late DIG. They pray that God will grant his soul eternal rest.
Barely one week after the Nigeria Police Force lost Sunday Bada a famous sprinter and a superintendent of police to the cold hand of death, another high rank officer , Ganiyu Dawodu, a Deputy Inspector – General of police (DIG) has allegedly slump and died of a suspected heart disease .
DIG Dawodu allegedly died in an undisclosed hotel room at Ikorodu on Thursday.
Until his death, DIG Dawodu was in charge of “D” department of the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID); the lightest investigating arm of the Nigeria Police.
Dawodu was in Lagos where he represented the Inspector General of police – Hafiz Ringim in the public presentation of a new crime drama series called “CASE FILE” a production of Bicommunication limited which also produces the police documentary “Crime Fighter-the police and you”.
Mr. Dawodu was full of life and cracked jokes at the event which was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Ikeja, on Thursday; he granted a press interview at the end of the programme.
It was gathered that after the event, DIG Dawodu went to his hotel room with an unnamed female Deputy Superintendent of police, (DSP) who allegedly came to visit him from Port Harcourt.
The said police woman raised the alarm about midnight that the DIG was unable to breathe- efforts to rush him to the hospital was futile as he had allegedly died before help could reach him.
It was further gathered that the late DIG had returned to the country after visiting South Africa for medical treatment over an undisclosed heart disease.
A police officer attached to the Homicide department Panti Yaba disclosed that the remains of the late DIG has been removed from the hotel room and deposited at a public mortuary for autopsy.
Reacting to the sudden death of DIG Dawodu, the Inspector General of police Hafiz Ringim confirmed the death.
Mr. Ringim in an obituary publication on the police official website said the Force regrets the death of DIG Dawodu
The message read “The Inspector General of police Hafiz Ringim on behalf of the Police management regrets to announce the death of DIG Ganiyu Dawodu NPM, mni” Mr. Ringim, also while addressing senior police officers in Abuja on Friday urged the officers to go for medical checkups.
“Let me seize this opportunity to appeal to you to personally take your health conditions seriously; you should go for medical check up so that you can carry out your job effectively” Ringim said. The officers held a one minute silence for the repose of the soul of the late DIG.
DIG Dawodu until his death was among six other officers promoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector – General of police (AIG) in September last year.
Reacting to the late DIG’s death, officers and men of the Lagos State police command expressed shock and sadness over the death of the late DIG. They pray that God will grant his soul eternal rest.
19-year-old arranges for grandfather to be robbed
BY PATIENCE OGBO
Police arrest Dapo and the armed robbery gang he recruited to rob his grandfather after a sale of land
Article | December 17, 2011 - 3:05am | By Patience Ogbo
19-year-old Dapo Olukoya who allegedly led armed men to rob his grandfather at Epe is blaming greed and the devil for his crime.
Dapo and eight other suspected armed robbers were arrested by officers attached to the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja in November after they robbed a septuagenarian of the proceeds from his land.
Unknown to the septuagenarian Adekoya Olukoya, his grandson, Dapo masterminded the robbery by informing robbers about his vast land at Epe.
In a bid to get his share of the cash, Dapo allegedly informed one Abiodun Salau, the son of a traditional ruler at Epe to organise armed robbers to attack his grand father.
Salau subsequently recruited one Jamiu Ayinde, 22, and other members of his gang identified as Lukeman Rasaz, Saheed Soluola, and Akin Adedapo (commercial motorcycle riders) for the robbery.
Dapo, who had been monitoring his grandfather, eventually called Salau and told him that his grandfather had sold the land for N12million.
“My grandfather has a lot of land at Epe and I got wind of his plan to sell some of the land. I was in need of money so that was how I went to meet Abiodun Salau to discuss with him," Dapo confessed.
"I told him about the sale of the land and that he should help me get men to rob my grandfather. When I learnt that my grandfather had sold the land for N12million, I called Abiodun that night and they came and rob my grandfather and other members of my family.”
According to Salau, the gang succeeded in collecting N300,000, and other valuables from the old man.
“It was Dapo who informed me about the money and I called Jamiu and the others to strike that night," he said.
"On November 18, Jamiu and the others went to the house and robbed the old man. After they finished the operation, Jamiu came back to me and gave me the guns to hide and N300,000, jewellery, wrist watches and other valuables. I gave Dapo N7,500 from the money and we shared the rest.”
Luck ran out on the gang when the next day, Jamiu was arrested by officers attached to the Agbowa Police station carrying out “stop and search” and they found cash and jewellery on him.
“It was during interrogation at SARS that I confessed and gave the names of other
members of the gang including two other erstwhile members of the gang Dare Shokunbi, and Bakare Olalekan were also arrested,” Jamiu said.
The officers then arrested Salau and others about 2.00am at Epe while they were sleeping. Four locally made guns, charms, jewellery and other valuables were recovered from the gang.
“I feel bad about my involvement in this crime, and I want God to forgive me. I want my family and my grandfather to forgive me, I was just greedy for money that is why I went into the crime, this will never happen again,” Dapo said.
A police source who requested anonymity said the case is under investigation.
“This gang has been involved in various Car snatching and armed robbery in Epe and Ikorodu," the source said.
"They hide under the cover of OPC (Odua People’s Congress) to carry guns and steal from people. We suspect other members of their gang still exist and we will track them down,” the officer said.
Police arrest Dapo and the armed robbery gang he recruited to rob his grandfather after a sale of land
Article | December 17, 2011 - 3:05am | By Patience Ogbo
19-year-old Dapo Olukoya who allegedly led armed men to rob his grandfather at Epe is blaming greed and the devil for his crime.
Dapo and eight other suspected armed robbers were arrested by officers attached to the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja in November after they robbed a septuagenarian of the proceeds from his land.
Unknown to the septuagenarian Adekoya Olukoya, his grandson, Dapo masterminded the robbery by informing robbers about his vast land at Epe.
In a bid to get his share of the cash, Dapo allegedly informed one Abiodun Salau, the son of a traditional ruler at Epe to organise armed robbers to attack his grand father.
Salau subsequently recruited one Jamiu Ayinde, 22, and other members of his gang identified as Lukeman Rasaz, Saheed Soluola, and Akin Adedapo (commercial motorcycle riders) for the robbery.
Dapo, who had been monitoring his grandfather, eventually called Salau and told him that his grandfather had sold the land for N12million.
“My grandfather has a lot of land at Epe and I got wind of his plan to sell some of the land. I was in need of money so that was how I went to meet Abiodun Salau to discuss with him," Dapo confessed.
"I told him about the sale of the land and that he should help me get men to rob my grandfather. When I learnt that my grandfather had sold the land for N12million, I called Abiodun that night and they came and rob my grandfather and other members of my family.”
According to Salau, the gang succeeded in collecting N300,000, and other valuables from the old man.
“It was Dapo who informed me about the money and I called Jamiu and the others to strike that night," he said.
"On November 18, Jamiu and the others went to the house and robbed the old man. After they finished the operation, Jamiu came back to me and gave me the guns to hide and N300,000, jewellery, wrist watches and other valuables. I gave Dapo N7,500 from the money and we shared the rest.”
Luck ran out on the gang when the next day, Jamiu was arrested by officers attached to the Agbowa Police station carrying out “stop and search” and they found cash and jewellery on him.
“It was during interrogation at SARS that I confessed and gave the names of other
members of the gang including two other erstwhile members of the gang Dare Shokunbi, and Bakare Olalekan were also arrested,” Jamiu said.
The officers then arrested Salau and others about 2.00am at Epe while they were sleeping. Four locally made guns, charms, jewellery and other valuables were recovered from the gang.
“I feel bad about my involvement in this crime, and I want God to forgive me. I want my family and my grandfather to forgive me, I was just greedy for money that is why I went into the crime, this will never happen again,” Dapo said.
A police source who requested anonymity said the case is under investigation.
“This gang has been involved in various Car snatching and armed robbery in Epe and Ikorodu," the source said.
"They hide under the cover of OPC (Odua People’s Congress) to carry guns and steal from people. We suspect other members of their gang still exist and we will track them down,” the officer said.
Analysts criticise FG’s N922bn security vote
Written by Bosede Olusola-Obasa
Frontline business professionals have said the failure to implement previous budgets on human development allowed security to take much of the 2012 budget proposals.
In the budget presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday, the highest vote went to security, an area perceived to be challenging for the administration.
Security got N922bn, education got N400.15bn, health – N282.8bn, works–N180.8bn, power –N161.4bn, agriculture–N78.98bn, Niger Delta –N59.7bn, petroleum resources–N59.7bn, transportation–N54.8bn, aviation – N49.2bn, among others.
Although the budget is tagged a stepping stone to economic transformation, analysts said its breakdown did not suggest that things would go that way except if the votes for education, health, works, agriculture, power were religiously implemented.
They urged the Federal Government to ensure accountability in the use of the security vote.
The President and Chairman of Governing Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, said Jonathan and his team must ensure that the security vote was disbursed in a way that would bring a recovery to the economy.
He said all security agencies must be co-opted and be adequately trained to get the job done; while international allies must also be strategically courted.
He said, “I really appreciated what the National Security Adviser did recently when he held a meeting with past security advisers and service chiefs on the state of the nation. That was an intelligent thing to do; it showed that the man is a true professional. That is a crucial aspect of gathering intelligence.
“The Federal Government must prove its sincerity in putting so much on security.”
A director of the Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi, said it was unfortunate that a budget tagged ‘economic transformation’ had its highest vote on security.
He said that budgets in Nigeria had become mere documents, which the government did what it pleased with.
He called for a strategy that would prove that the FG understood what it wanted to achieve from the budget and not just pay lip service to security and economic transformation.
He said, “For a long time, I have not been paying close attention to the national budget because of the frustrations and disappointments that have arisen from non-implementation of same.
“This is a country where the budget is not fully implemented and they talk of returning money to government coffers. If we are serious about it this time, let emphasis be placed on funding all the security agencies, because it has become a huge challenge.”
Utomi, a management expert and entrepreneur, tasked civil society groups to monitor the government to ensure that results were achieved.
He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria currently ranked very low in Millennium Development Goals compared to smaller African countries it gave aids to.
Commission dismisses two senior policemen for misconduct Featured
Written by Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
The Police Service Commission has dismissed from service two senior policemen for acts of professional misconduct.
The commission, at the end of its meeting in Abuja on Thursday, approved the dismissal of Babatunde Jonathan and Sheikh Usman Umar, both Chief Superintendent of Police.
The PSC also approved the promotion of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hassan Biu, to the rank of Commissioner of Police with effect from December 15, 2011 based on the Inspector-General of Police’s recommendation.
Similarly, nine other officers were reprimanded, while a Deputy Superintendent of Police had his rank reduced to Assistant Superintendent of Police for conduct unexpected of a senior police officer.
The chairman of the commission, Parry Osayande, said the PSC would always reward hard work and diligence with elevation, while all acts against police conduct would not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, has inaugurated the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry with a call on the force to take an advantage of the advancement in technological innovations to protect lives and property.
He called for the integration of the BCMR with the new driving licence database and the National Communication Commission database for effective security system, adding that a proper utilisation of these databases would help to detect stolen vehicles and reduce car theft in the country.
The IG, Hafiz Ringim, said the upgraded BCMR would provide first-hand information and authentic database for police operational guide on crime prevention and detection in place of reliance on secondary data hitherto provided the force by other agencies.
Frontline business professionals have said the failure to implement previous budgets on human development allowed security to take much of the 2012 budget proposals.
In the budget presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday, the highest vote went to security, an area perceived to be challenging for the administration.
Security got N922bn, education got N400.15bn, health – N282.8bn, works–N180.8bn, power –N161.4bn, agriculture–N78.98bn, Niger Delta –N59.7bn, petroleum resources–N59.7bn, transportation–N54.8bn, aviation – N49.2bn, among others.
Although the budget is tagged a stepping stone to economic transformation, analysts said its breakdown did not suggest that things would go that way except if the votes for education, health, works, agriculture, power were religiously implemented.
They urged the Federal Government to ensure accountability in the use of the security vote.
The President and Chairman of Governing Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, said Jonathan and his team must ensure that the security vote was disbursed in a way that would bring a recovery to the economy.
He said all security agencies must be co-opted and be adequately trained to get the job done; while international allies must also be strategically courted.
He said, “I really appreciated what the National Security Adviser did recently when he held a meeting with past security advisers and service chiefs on the state of the nation. That was an intelligent thing to do; it showed that the man is a true professional. That is a crucial aspect of gathering intelligence.
“The Federal Government must prove its sincerity in putting so much on security.”
A director of the Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi, said it was unfortunate that a budget tagged ‘economic transformation’ had its highest vote on security.
He said that budgets in Nigeria had become mere documents, which the government did what it pleased with.
He called for a strategy that would prove that the FG understood what it wanted to achieve from the budget and not just pay lip service to security and economic transformation.
He said, “For a long time, I have not been paying close attention to the national budget because of the frustrations and disappointments that have arisen from non-implementation of same.
“This is a country where the budget is not fully implemented and they talk of returning money to government coffers. If we are serious about it this time, let emphasis be placed on funding all the security agencies, because it has become a huge challenge.”
Utomi, a management expert and entrepreneur, tasked civil society groups to monitor the government to ensure that results were achieved.
He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria currently ranked very low in Millennium Development Goals compared to smaller African countries it gave aids to.
Commission dismisses two senior policemen for misconduct Featured
Written by Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
The Police Service Commission has dismissed from service two senior policemen for acts of professional misconduct.
The commission, at the end of its meeting in Abuja on Thursday, approved the dismissal of Babatunde Jonathan and Sheikh Usman Umar, both Chief Superintendent of Police.
The PSC also approved the promotion of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hassan Biu, to the rank of Commissioner of Police with effect from December 15, 2011 based on the Inspector-General of Police’s recommendation.
Similarly, nine other officers were reprimanded, while a Deputy Superintendent of Police had his rank reduced to Assistant Superintendent of Police for conduct unexpected of a senior police officer.
The chairman of the commission, Parry Osayande, said the PSC would always reward hard work and diligence with elevation, while all acts against police conduct would not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, has inaugurated the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry with a call on the force to take an advantage of the advancement in technological innovations to protect lives and property.
He called for the integration of the BCMR with the new driving licence database and the National Communication Commission database for effective security system, adding that a proper utilisation of these databases would help to detect stolen vehicles and reduce car theft in the country.
The IG, Hafiz Ringim, said the upgraded BCMR would provide first-hand information and authentic database for police operational guide on crime prevention and detection in place of reliance on secondary data hitherto provided the force by other agencies.
Lagos police chief abets thugs, says a residentNovember 25, 2011 5 Comments and 0 Reactions
A Lagos resident alleges that Tunde Sobolu, a deputy commissioner of police harbor thugdA Lagos resident has accused the deputy commissioner of police operations, Tunde Sobulo, of promoting brigandage in the state. In a narration sent to the Nigeria Police Watch, the resident explained how Mr. Sobulo commune and encourage thugs in his office.
“The deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Sobulo is not fit to occupy his present position as he is one of those fuelling and giving impetus to the hoodlums in Lagos for his personal gains,” the resident said.
The public relation officer of the Lagos police command, Samuel Jinadu, however, denied the allegations saying Mr. Sobolu has contributed immensely to the reduction of crime in Lagos and “cannot do that.”
“He is a man of integrity and I believe he cannot liaise with criminals,” Mr. Jinadu said.
The story, as narrated by the resident is presented below.
“Last Tuesday, some boys from Fadeyi led by Femi Akinboyeku, Muyiwa Sangowawa aka Big 90, Yinka Sobodu and others attacked a corporate transport office at No 44 Ikorodu road, Fadeyi and destroyed all its fittings.
The boys had demanded for N1.5 million from the business owner as prerequisite to start the enterprise in the area but the man refused to yield.
Before the, the boys – especially Big 90 – had for a week continually sent the business owner death threats threatening to “spill blood” at the premises if he fails to pay the money.
The man petitioned Lagos state police command asking the police prosecute the boys. The police approved the petition and dispatched a team of the state anti robbery team to arrest the culprits who are always armed.
Before the police got to the scene on Tuesday the boys had disappeared and the police left.
Do you know that when the anti robbery team and the petitioner got back to the state command with their report they were summoned to the office of the deputy commissioner of police operations, Tunde Sobulo.
Surprisingly, the petitioner saw his persecutors sitting confidently in the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The Deputy Commissioner lambasted the petitioner and told them to go and pay the money. According to the commissioner, the boys are entitled to the money since the petitioner too will profit from the enterprise. He told the business owner categorically that he cannot operate except he pays the boys the money.
The petitioner was astounded by what he heard.
Later, the deputy commissioner asked the boys to reduce the ransom and asked the petitioner to dialogue with the gang; the same boys the police had declared wanted.
This happened on Tuesday the 22nd of November 2011 at about 5p.m in the office of the dc at Ikeja.
Now we truly know who is giving liver to these boys to commit more atrocities. The deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Sobulo is not fit to occupy his present position as he is one of those fuelling and giving impetus to the hoodlums in Lagos for his personal gains.
The IGP should investigate the deputy commissioner who had allowed Femi Akinboyeku and other thugs to operate without hindrance.
Reply Forward
A Lagos resident alleges that Tunde Sobolu, a deputy commissioner of police harbor thugdA Lagos resident has accused the deputy commissioner of police operations, Tunde Sobulo, of promoting brigandage in the state. In a narration sent to the Nigeria Police Watch, the resident explained how Mr. Sobulo commune and encourage thugs in his office.
“The deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Sobulo is not fit to occupy his present position as he is one of those fuelling and giving impetus to the hoodlums in Lagos for his personal gains,” the resident said.
The public relation officer of the Lagos police command, Samuel Jinadu, however, denied the allegations saying Mr. Sobolu has contributed immensely to the reduction of crime in Lagos and “cannot do that.”
“He is a man of integrity and I believe he cannot liaise with criminals,” Mr. Jinadu said.
The story, as narrated by the resident is presented below.
“Last Tuesday, some boys from Fadeyi led by Femi Akinboyeku, Muyiwa Sangowawa aka Big 90, Yinka Sobodu and others attacked a corporate transport office at No 44 Ikorodu road, Fadeyi and destroyed all its fittings.
The boys had demanded for N1.5 million from the business owner as prerequisite to start the enterprise in the area but the man refused to yield.
Before the, the boys – especially Big 90 – had for a week continually sent the business owner death threats threatening to “spill blood” at the premises if he fails to pay the money.
The man petitioned Lagos state police command asking the police prosecute the boys. The police approved the petition and dispatched a team of the state anti robbery team to arrest the culprits who are always armed.
Before the police got to the scene on Tuesday the boys had disappeared and the police left.
Do you know that when the anti robbery team and the petitioner got back to the state command with their report they were summoned to the office of the deputy commissioner of police operations, Tunde Sobulo.
Surprisingly, the petitioner saw his persecutors sitting confidently in the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The Deputy Commissioner lambasted the petitioner and told them to go and pay the money. According to the commissioner, the boys are entitled to the money since the petitioner too will profit from the enterprise. He told the business owner categorically that he cannot operate except he pays the boys the money.
The petitioner was astounded by what he heard.
Later, the deputy commissioner asked the boys to reduce the ransom and asked the petitioner to dialogue with the gang; the same boys the police had declared wanted.
This happened on Tuesday the 22nd of November 2011 at about 5p.m in the office of the dc at Ikeja.
Now we truly know who is giving liver to these boys to commit more atrocities. The deputy commissioner of police, Mr. Sobulo is not fit to occupy his present position as he is one of those fuelling and giving impetus to the hoodlums in Lagos for his personal gains.
The IGP should investigate the deputy commissioner who had allowed Femi Akinboyeku and other thugs to operate without hindrance.
Reply Forward
SUSPECTED CULTISTs IN POLICE CUSTODY ---
SUSPECTED CULTIST IN POLICE CUSTODY ---
FOLLOWING DEADLY CLASH AT MILE 12
STORY BY PATIENCE OGBO
Ten members of the Bukanner cult are in the police custody for allegedly disturbing public peace at Mile 12 area of Lagos state.
The cultists are being interrogated by officers of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja following their arrest on December 2nd.
It was gathered that the suspects were engaged in a melee with another cult group called Eiye confraternity at the Mile 12 area, where the two groups fought each other with dangerous weapons .
In order to nip the crisis,the police officers from the Ketu Police station were informed of the deadly clash and they swooped on the cultists arresting ten of them. The suspects were transferred to SARS for though investigations on December 3rd
A police source said the police recovered seven cutlasses and a locally made gun from the suspects.
The suspects include, Adewale Adeboye, Agunbiade Lateeef, Ekun Ganiu, Ayebusiwa Tosin, Joseph Olumuyiwa, Seun Balogun, Ibrahim Ahmed, Badejo Niyi, Korede Kazeem, and Yusuf Olatunji.
The suspects however denied the allegation that they were causing mayheem and using guns to terrorise the public;they blame the Eiye cult for thier ordeal.
Tosin Ayebusiwa, said " on that Friday , I was relaxing in my shop and all of a sudden I saw some boys fully armed and they came to me asking me about somebody , I told them that I do not know anything about the person, so that was how I asked them who thy are and they said they are Eiye guys and they started cursing and threatening me to produce that guy,
before I could say anything, they swooped on me and started attacking me they scattered my house and my shop so that was how the trouble started it was Eiye that started it and i called my elder brother to call the police and inform them of the eiye boys ,other members of my Bukanners cult heard that I was being attacked that was how they came to rescue me, it was in the process that they were arrested by the police the Eiye boys brought so this is a set up plan; "Tosin said.
Another member of the group, Ekun Ganiyu 27, a graduate of Accountancy from the Igbenedion University Okada said they are Innocent " I am a Bukanner and all of us are , when we heard that Tosin was being attacked by the Eiye boys, we came to his aid , but he has been surrounded by the Eiye boys, the police came and rounded us up saying that we are causing trouble whereas it is a set up by the Eiye and the police"Ekun said.
Another member of the Bukanner, Ibrahim Ahmed call on the commissioner of police in the state , Yakubu Alkali to investigate the case thoroughly,
" we are being alleged to have clashed with Eiye boys but non of them is in the police custody, we were set up and the commissioner of police should temper judgment with mercy as such a thing will never happen again, we are not armed robbers and the gun the police found is not ours, it was the Eiye boys that brought the guns, we are not thieves , or armed robbers as being alleged so we call on the Commissioner of police to investigate this case thoroughly:"
Tosin denied that he started the clash,
" I am not the one that cause this fight, in short I am a victim here because it was the Eiye boys that came to my house to attack me, they scattered my house and beat me up, as a law abiding citizen, I called the police , if we knew that the police were coming, there is no how we would have carried gun and wait for them to arrest us with guns,so we are not thieves or armed robbers as being alleged , we are innocent in this matter"
BY PATIENCE OGBO
Ten members of the Bukanner cult are in the police custody for allegedly disturbing public peace at Mile 12 area of Lagos state.
The cultists are being interrogated by officers of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja following their arrest on December 2nd.
It was gathered that the suspects were engaged in a melee with another cult group called Eiye confraternity at the Mile 12 area, where the two groups fought each other with dangerous weapons .
In order to nip the crisis,the police officers from the Ketu Police station were informed of the deadly clash and they swooped on the cultists arresting ten of them. The suspects were transferred to SARS for though investigations on December 3rd
A police source said the police recovered seven cutlasses and a locally made gun from the suspects.
The suspects include, Adewale Adeboye, Agunbiade Lateeef, Ekun Ganiu, Ayebusiwa Tosin, Joseph Olumuyiwa, Seun Balogun, Ibrahim Ahmed, Badejo Niyi, Korede Kazeem, and Yusuf Olatunji.
The suspects however denied the allegation that they were causing mayheem and using guns to terrorise the public;they blame the Eiye cult for thier ordeal.
Tosin Ayebusiwa, said " on that Friday , I was relaxing in my shop and all of a sudden I saw some boys fully armed and they came to me asking me about somebody , I told them that I do not know anything about the person, so that was how I asked them who thy are and they said they are Eiye guys and they started cursing and threatening me to produce that guy,
before I could say anything, they swooped on me and started attacking me they scattered my house and my shop so that was how the trouble started it was Eiye that started it and i called my elder brother to call the police and inform them of the eiye boys ,other members of my Bukanners cult heard that I was being attacked that was how they came to rescue me, it was in the process that they were arrested by the police the Eiye boys brought so this is a set up plan; "Tosin said.
Another member of the group, Ekun Ganiyu 27, a graduate of Accountancy from the Igbenedion University Okada said they are Innocent " I am a Bukanner and all of us are , when we heard that Tosin was being attacked by the Eiye boys, we came to his aid , but he has been surrounded by the Eiye boys, the police came and rounded us up saying that we are causing trouble whereas it is a set up by the Eiye and the police"Ekun said.
Another member of the Bukanner, Ibrahim Ahmed call on the commissioner of police in the state , Yakubu Alkali to investigate the case thoroughly,
" we are being alleged to have clashed with Eiye boys but non of them is in the police custody, we were set up and the commissioner of police should temper judgment with mercy as such a thing will never happen again, we are not armed robbers and the gun the police found is not ours, it was the Eiye boys that brought the guns, we are not thieves , or armed robbers as being alleged so we call on the Commissioner of police to investigate this case thoroughly:"
Tosin denied that he started the clash,
" I am not the one that cause this fight, in short I am a victim here because it was the Eiye boys that came to my house to attack me, they scattered my house and beat me up, as a law abiding citizen, I called the police , if we knew that the police were coming, there is no how we would have carried gun and wait for them to arrest us with guns,so we are not thieves or armed robbers as being alleged , we are innocent in this matter"
FOLLOWING DEADLY CLASH AT MILE 12
STORY BY PATIENCE OGBO
Ten members of the Bukanner cult are in the police custody for allegedly disturbing public peace at Mile 12 area of Lagos state.
The cultists are being interrogated by officers of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja following their arrest on December 2nd.
It was gathered that the suspects were engaged in a melee with another cult group called Eiye confraternity at the Mile 12 area, where the two groups fought each other with dangerous weapons .
In order to nip the crisis,the police officers from the Ketu Police station were informed of the deadly clash and they swooped on the cultists arresting ten of them. The suspects were transferred to SARS for though investigations on December 3rd
A police source said the police recovered seven cutlasses and a locally made gun from the suspects.
The suspects include, Adewale Adeboye, Agunbiade Lateeef, Ekun Ganiu, Ayebusiwa Tosin, Joseph Olumuyiwa, Seun Balogun, Ibrahim Ahmed, Badejo Niyi, Korede Kazeem, and Yusuf Olatunji.
The suspects however denied the allegation that they were causing mayheem and using guns to terrorise the public;they blame the Eiye cult for thier ordeal.
Tosin Ayebusiwa, said " on that Friday , I was relaxing in my shop and all of a sudden I saw some boys fully armed and they came to me asking me about somebody , I told them that I do not know anything about the person, so that was how I asked them who thy are and they said they are Eiye guys and they started cursing and threatening me to produce that guy,
before I could say anything, they swooped on me and started attacking me they scattered my house and my shop so that was how the trouble started it was Eiye that started it and i called my elder brother to call the police and inform them of the eiye boys ,other members of my Bukanners cult heard that I was being attacked that was how they came to rescue me, it was in the process that they were arrested by the police the Eiye boys brought so this is a set up plan; "Tosin said.
Another member of the group, Ekun Ganiyu 27, a graduate of Accountancy from the Igbenedion University Okada said they are Innocent " I am a Bukanner and all of us are , when we heard that Tosin was being attacked by the Eiye boys, we came to his aid , but he has been surrounded by the Eiye boys, the police came and rounded us up saying that we are causing trouble whereas it is a set up by the Eiye and the police"Ekun said.
Another member of the Bukanner, Ibrahim Ahmed call on the commissioner of police in the state , Yakubu Alkali to investigate the case thoroughly,
" we are being alleged to have clashed with Eiye boys but non of them is in the police custody, we were set up and the commissioner of police should temper judgment with mercy as such a thing will never happen again, we are not armed robbers and the gun the police found is not ours, it was the Eiye boys that brought the guns, we are not thieves , or armed robbers as being alleged so we call on the Commissioner of police to investigate this case thoroughly:"
Tosin denied that he started the clash,
" I am not the one that cause this fight, in short I am a victim here because it was the Eiye boys that came to my house to attack me, they scattered my house and beat me up, as a law abiding citizen, I called the police , if we knew that the police were coming, there is no how we would have carried gun and wait for them to arrest us with guns,so we are not thieves or armed robbers as being alleged , we are innocent in this matter"
BY PATIENCE OGBO
Ten members of the Bukanner cult are in the police custody for allegedly disturbing public peace at Mile 12 area of Lagos state.
The cultists are being interrogated by officers of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja following their arrest on December 2nd.
It was gathered that the suspects were engaged in a melee with another cult group called Eiye confraternity at the Mile 12 area, where the two groups fought each other with dangerous weapons .
In order to nip the crisis,the police officers from the Ketu Police station were informed of the deadly clash and they swooped on the cultists arresting ten of them. The suspects were transferred to SARS for though investigations on December 3rd
A police source said the police recovered seven cutlasses and a locally made gun from the suspects.
The suspects include, Adewale Adeboye, Agunbiade Lateeef, Ekun Ganiu, Ayebusiwa Tosin, Joseph Olumuyiwa, Seun Balogun, Ibrahim Ahmed, Badejo Niyi, Korede Kazeem, and Yusuf Olatunji.
The suspects however denied the allegation that they were causing mayheem and using guns to terrorise the public;they blame the Eiye cult for thier ordeal.
Tosin Ayebusiwa, said " on that Friday , I was relaxing in my shop and all of a sudden I saw some boys fully armed and they came to me asking me about somebody , I told them that I do not know anything about the person, so that was how I asked them who thy are and they said they are Eiye guys and they started cursing and threatening me to produce that guy,
before I could say anything, they swooped on me and started attacking me they scattered my house and my shop so that was how the trouble started it was Eiye that started it and i called my elder brother to call the police and inform them of the eiye boys ,other members of my Bukanners cult heard that I was being attacked that was how they came to rescue me, it was in the process that they were arrested by the police the Eiye boys brought so this is a set up plan; "Tosin said.
Another member of the group, Ekun Ganiyu 27, a graduate of Accountancy from the Igbenedion University Okada said they are Innocent " I am a Bukanner and all of us are , when we heard that Tosin was being attacked by the Eiye boys, we came to his aid , but he has been surrounded by the Eiye boys, the police came and rounded us up saying that we are causing trouble whereas it is a set up by the Eiye and the police"Ekun said.
Another member of the Bukanner, Ibrahim Ahmed call on the commissioner of police in the state , Yakubu Alkali to investigate the case thoroughly,
" we are being alleged to have clashed with Eiye boys but non of them is in the police custody, we were set up and the commissioner of police should temper judgment with mercy as such a thing will never happen again, we are not armed robbers and the gun the police found is not ours, it was the Eiye boys that brought the guns, we are not thieves , or armed robbers as being alleged so we call on the Commissioner of police to investigate this case thoroughly:"
Tosin denied that he started the clash,
" I am not the one that cause this fight, in short I am a victim here because it was the Eiye boys that came to my house to attack me, they scattered my house and beat me up, as a law abiding citizen, I called the police , if we knew that the police were coming, there is no how we would have carried gun and wait for them to arrest us with guns,so we are not thieves or armed robbers as being alleged , we are innocent in this matter"
Abandon Babies on the increase in Lagos
Abandon Babies on the increase in Lagos
By Patience Ogbo
A day old baby boy dumped in a bush in Ikorodu last month has brought to the fore the increasing cases of child abandonment in Ikorodu and Lagos state in general.
While individuals , and NGO's are taking up the challenge of rescuing these babies, the residents call on the government to take practical steps to stop the ugly trend so as to prevent population explosion in the country.
According to an eye witness who identified himself as Leke, said " I was passing by when I heard the cry of a baby and on getting nearer to the bush I found a black poly-bag open with the baby inside.
I was shock to see the baby so I raised alarm and sympathizers throng in their hundreds to the scene to have a glimpse of the baby"Leke said
The news of the abandoned baby spread like a wild fire within Ikorodu but it took the intervention of one Rev. (Mrs.) kaleefat Lydia Aroyewu, the Founder and President of Great Faith Orphanage Home Igbogbo who picked the baby up and took him to her orphanage where the baby boy is receiving medical treatment and care .
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu, express concern over the incessant cases of abandon babies in Ikorodu and call on the government to cater for pregnant teenagers so as to halt the ugly trend of child abandonment in the country.
‘The vision to cater for abandon babies came as a result of heart yearning concern with deep pity for the masses, down trodden and less privilege in the society’
‘The present rate of divorces, broken homes, abandoned babies, widows plights, orphans and drop-out in the society is alarming. Lots of teenage girls have been abducted, put in the family way and abandoned, some are rejected and many are on the verge of developing psychological problems. The love of God needs to be extended to all this class of people and this is what Great Faith Orphanage Home (a non governmental organization)is committed to do and have been doing.’
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu further stated that her objective is to give a permanent home to these children until such a time that they will become independent to live an independent comfortable and peaceful life.
the Great Faith Orphanage Home house over forty-five abandon babies picked up from various parts of the country.
"Seventy-five percent of children in this home are attending private schools at a huge financial cost but according to Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu ‘to God is the glory’.
investigation revealed that child abandonment in Ikorodu is rampant with over t6wenty cases reported between January and November
it can be recalled that a baby girl was abandoned at piggery site in Egbin town in Ijede LCDA after but Oba Abdukareem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Royal Kingdom took custody of the child.
also the story of a baby child girl that was dumped in a refuse site inside a polythene bag with the placenta wrapped round her. The Oba Agibade Bakare –Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota town took custody of the baby girl and today the baby girl is a princess in the palace of the Ranodu.
3 attachments — Download all attachments View all images
faith.jpg
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A day old baby boy dumped in a bush in Ikorodu last month has brought to the fore the increasing cases of child abandonment in Ikorodu and Lagos state in general.
While individuals , and NGO's are taking up the challenge of rescuing these babies, the residents call on the government to take practical steps to stop the ugly trend so as to prevent population explosion in the country.
According to an eye witness who identified himself as Leke, said " I was passing by when I heard the cry of a baby and on getting nearer to the bush I found a black poly-bag open with the baby inside.
I was shock to see the baby so I raised alarm and sympathizers throng in their hundreds to the scene to have a glimpse of the baby"Leke said
The news of the abandoned baby spread like a wild fire within Ikorodu but it took the intervention of one Rev. (Mrs.) kaleefat Lydia Aroyewu, the Founder and President of Great Faith Orphanage Home Igbogbo who picked the baby up and took him to her orphanage where the baby boy is receiving medical treatment and care .
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu, express concern over the incessant cases of abandon babies in Ikorodu and call on the government to cater for pregnant teenagers so as to halt the ugly trend of child abandonment in the country.
‘The vision to cater for abandon babies came as a result of heart yearning concern with deep pity for the masses, down trodden and less privilege in the society’
‘The present rate of divorces, broken homes, abandoned babies, widows plights, orphans and drop-out in the society is alarming. Lots of teenage girls have been abducted, put in the family way and abandoned, some are rejected and many are on the verge of developing psychological problems. The love of God needs to be extended to all this class of people and this is what Great Faith Orphanage Home (a non governmental organization)is committed to do and have been doing.’
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu further stated that her objective is to give a permanent home to these children until such a time that they will become independent to live an independent comfortable and peaceful life.
the Great Faith Orphanage Home house over forty-five abandon babies picked up from various parts of the country.
"Seventy-five percent of children in this home are attending private schools at a huge financial cost but according to Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu ‘to God is the glory’.
investigation revealed that child abandonment in Ikorodu is rampant with over twenty cases reported between January and November at the Orphange
It can be recalled that a baby girl was abandoned at piggery site in Egbin town in Ijede LCDA after but Oba Abdukareem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Royal Kingdom took custody of the child.
Also a baby child girl that was dumped in a refuse site inside a polythene bag with the placenta wrapped round her was rescued by Oba Agibade Bakare –Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota town who took custody of the baby girl and today the baby girl is an adopted princess in the palace of oba .
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By Patience Ogbo
A day old baby boy dumped in a bush in Ikorodu last month has brought to the fore the increasing cases of child abandonment in Ikorodu and Lagos state in general.
While individuals , and NGO's are taking up the challenge of rescuing these babies, the residents call on the government to take practical steps to stop the ugly trend so as to prevent population explosion in the country.
According to an eye witness who identified himself as Leke, said " I was passing by when I heard the cry of a baby and on getting nearer to the bush I found a black poly-bag open with the baby inside.
I was shock to see the baby so I raised alarm and sympathizers throng in their hundreds to the scene to have a glimpse of the baby"Leke said
The news of the abandoned baby spread like a wild fire within Ikorodu but it took the intervention of one Rev. (Mrs.) kaleefat Lydia Aroyewu, the Founder and President of Great Faith Orphanage Home Igbogbo who picked the baby up and took him to her orphanage where the baby boy is receiving medical treatment and care .
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu, express concern over the incessant cases of abandon babies in Ikorodu and call on the government to cater for pregnant teenagers so as to halt the ugly trend of child abandonment in the country.
‘The vision to cater for abandon babies came as a result of heart yearning concern with deep pity for the masses, down trodden and less privilege in the society’
‘The present rate of divorces, broken homes, abandoned babies, widows plights, orphans and drop-out in the society is alarming. Lots of teenage girls have been abducted, put in the family way and abandoned, some are rejected and many are on the verge of developing psychological problems. The love of God needs to be extended to all this class of people and this is what Great Faith Orphanage Home (a non governmental organization)is committed to do and have been doing.’
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu further stated that her objective is to give a permanent home to these children until such a time that they will become independent to live an independent comfortable and peaceful life.
the Great Faith Orphanage Home house over forty-five abandon babies picked up from various parts of the country.
"Seventy-five percent of children in this home are attending private schools at a huge financial cost but according to Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu ‘to God is the glory’.
investigation revealed that child abandonment in Ikorodu is rampant with over t6wenty cases reported between January and November
it can be recalled that a baby girl was abandoned at piggery site in Egbin town in Ijede LCDA after but Oba Abdukareem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Royal Kingdom took custody of the child.
also the story of a baby child girl that was dumped in a refuse site inside a polythene bag with the placenta wrapped round her. The Oba Agibade Bakare –Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota town took custody of the baby girl and today the baby girl is a princess in the palace of the Ranodu.
3 attachments — Download all attachments View all images
faith.jpg
265K View Download
A day old baby boy dumped in a bush in Ikorodu last month has brought to the fore the increasing cases of child abandonment in Ikorodu and Lagos state in general.
While individuals , and NGO's are taking up the challenge of rescuing these babies, the residents call on the government to take practical steps to stop the ugly trend so as to prevent population explosion in the country.
According to an eye witness who identified himself as Leke, said " I was passing by when I heard the cry of a baby and on getting nearer to the bush I found a black poly-bag open with the baby inside.
I was shock to see the baby so I raised alarm and sympathizers throng in their hundreds to the scene to have a glimpse of the baby"Leke said
The news of the abandoned baby spread like a wild fire within Ikorodu but it took the intervention of one Rev. (Mrs.) kaleefat Lydia Aroyewu, the Founder and President of Great Faith Orphanage Home Igbogbo who picked the baby up and took him to her orphanage where the baby boy is receiving medical treatment and care .
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu, express concern over the incessant cases of abandon babies in Ikorodu and call on the government to cater for pregnant teenagers so as to halt the ugly trend of child abandonment in the country.
‘The vision to cater for abandon babies came as a result of heart yearning concern with deep pity for the masses, down trodden and less privilege in the society’
‘The present rate of divorces, broken homes, abandoned babies, widows plights, orphans and drop-out in the society is alarming. Lots of teenage girls have been abducted, put in the family way and abandoned, some are rejected and many are on the verge of developing psychological problems. The love of God needs to be extended to all this class of people and this is what Great Faith Orphanage Home (a non governmental organization)is committed to do and have been doing.’
Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu further stated that her objective is to give a permanent home to these children until such a time that they will become independent to live an independent comfortable and peaceful life.
the Great Faith Orphanage Home house over forty-five abandon babies picked up from various parts of the country.
"Seventy-five percent of children in this home are attending private schools at a huge financial cost but according to Rev. Mrs. Aroyewu ‘to God is the glory’.
investigation revealed that child abandonment in Ikorodu is rampant with over twenty cases reported between January and November at the Orphange
It can be recalled that a baby girl was abandoned at piggery site in Egbin town in Ijede LCDA after but Oba Abdukareem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Royal Kingdom took custody of the child.
Also a baby child girl that was dumped in a refuse site inside a polythene bag with the placenta wrapped round her was rescued by Oba Agibade Bakare –Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota town who took custody of the baby girl and today the baby girl is an adopted princess in the palace of oba .
3 attachments — Download all attachments View all images
faith.jpg
265K View Download
faith1.jpg
252K View Download
faith2.jpg
309K View Download
Reply Forward
Click here to Reply or Forward
Pension AdministrationAds – Why this ad?Stanbic IBTC Bank Is A Leading Pension Administrator In Nigeria.
www.stanbicibtcpension.com People (7)aggiwa amu
aggiwaamu@yahoo.com
Show details
Ads – Why these ads?
Postgraduate School Online
Online Postgraduate degrees. 100% Online, 100% Supported!
WaldenU.edu/Postgraduate
Property to Rent Nigeria
Widest Range of Property to Rent. Alerts, Pics & Info. Register Today
www.PrivateProperty.com.ng
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SANITISED OKADA OPERATION WILL CURB CRIME IN LAGOS STATE --- SAID SSS.
The State Security Service (SSS) has urged the Lagos state government to sanitize the operations of the commercial motorcycle riders as a way to curb crime in the state.
Mohammed Ibrahim, the officer in charge of Labour of the SSS in Lagos state said this at a press conference organized by the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) in Lagos on December 14th.
Mr. Ibrahim who represented the State Director of SSS stated that stricter enforcement of the rules and regulations in commercial motorcycle operations will ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
“Okada riding is an inevitable transport in the state. We cannot do without okada riders as they are viable and important to the economic development in the state – the risk in security is high as okada riders are used by men of the underworld to commit crime- in this vein, there is the need to sprung the riders
okada riders should have stickers, and uniforms for proper identifications, also there is the need to have an okada riders’ task force to assist the security agencies to know the members and with this development, we can sanitize the okada operations; the riders should also cooperate with security agencies by providing them with information about criminals in their midst” Mr. Ibrahim said.
Mr. Tijani Perkis, the chairman of the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) also call on the government to also sanitize commercial motorcycle operations in the state instead of the purported ban.
Mr. Perkis revealed that more than five million Nigerians will be jobless if the Lagos state government carries out its purported plan to ban commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as okada in the state.
The press conference which was attended by members of the motorcycle riders, State Security Service (SSS), National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) and officers of the transport ministry in Lagos state was a forum for all the stake holders to proffer solutions to the mirage of problems involved in commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos state.
Mr. Perkis stated that commercial motorcycle is a means of transportation that should be properly recognized and sanitized by the government.
“Commercial motorcycle operations evolved as a child of necessity due to the unbearable level of unemployment in the country. From the mid 80s, okada business provided answers by becoming the source of income of over five million Nigerians, also okada came to the rescue of artisan graduates WHO have NO INCOME TO ESTABLISH A WORKSHOP,
Also during the economic recession and it attendant retrenchment, okada also came to the rescue of the teeming unemployed” Mr. Perkis said.
Mr. Perkis blames the poor state of the roads in the country, and the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos state for the upsurge in residents’ need to patronize commercial motorcycle as a means of transportation
“Before it is “heavy hold –up”, now it is complete stand still on our roads; many man hours are lost in such traffic ,lives are lost and people resorted to using okada to ease their plight on the road”Mr. Perkis said .
In proffering solutions to the challenges in commercial motorcycle operation in the state, the stakeholders call on the government to enforce stricter penalties on traffic defaulters.
“There should be a total ban on all unrecognized okada associations in Lagos as too many mushroom associations are springing up and they are the ones causing problems. Also there should be the introduction of uniform reflectors in the name of the unions, stricter enforcement of riders’ card and the inculcation of training,
the compulsory registration of every riders into parks or unit for easy identification; we submit that it is no solution to throw away the baby with the bath water as this will result to unemployment and upsurge in crime in the state. As a result, we are ready to work with the government to ensure that okada operations become safe for all but if the government insist on banning okada, then they should be ready to provide alternatives for the riders ” Mr. Perkis said.
The stake holders also call on the government to introduce compulsory accident insurance for passengers and riders, as a means of reducing the heavy medical cost from okada accidents and cooperation in setting up a joint task force with the Ministry of transportation to flush out non members.
Reacting to the purported ban in commercial motorcycle operation in the state, Remi Thomas, the Director of Transport and Operations in the Lagos state ministry of Transportation who represented the commisoner for transportation, said the government is ready to work with commercial motorcycle riders through a joint task force.
“The government has held series of meetings with the okada riders and our aim is to make okada operations safe for all, we will support you if you obey the law.”Mr. Thomas said.
In order to curb the menace of commercial motorcycle riders in the state, the Lagos state government last week began a clamp down on motorcycle riders plying the high way, with over 1000 defaulters arrested.
Also, Governor Babtubde Raji Fashola recently arrested five commercial motorcycle riders for riding against traffic on the one way route.
The governor blames commercial motorcycle riders for the upsurge in crime in the state and the frequent accidents on the highway and as a way to check okada menace, the governor also reconstituted a security committee to curb the recklessness of the okada riders in the state.
The two recognized commercial motorcycle associations in Lagos state are the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) and the Motorcycle Riders and OwnersAssociation (ANACOWA)
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Mohammed Ibrahim, the officer in charge of Labour of the SSS in Lagos state said this at a press conference organized by the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) in Lagos on December 14th.
Mr. Ibrahim who represented the State Director of SSS stated that stricter enforcement of the rules and regulations in commercial motorcycle operations will ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
“Okada riding is an inevitable transport in the state. We cannot do without okada riders as they are viable and important to the economic development in the state – the risk in security is high as okada riders are used by men of the underworld to commit crime- in this vein, there is the need to sprung the riders
okada riders should have stickers, and uniforms for proper identifications, also there is the need to have an okada riders’ task force to assist the security agencies to know the members and with this development, we can sanitize the okada operations; the riders should also cooperate with security agencies by providing them with information about criminals in their midst” Mr. Ibrahim said.
Mr. Tijani Perkis, the chairman of the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) also call on the government to also sanitize commercial motorcycle operations in the state instead of the purported ban.
Mr. Perkis revealed that more than five million Nigerians will be jobless if the Lagos state government carries out its purported plan to ban commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as okada in the state.
The press conference which was attended by members of the motorcycle riders, State Security Service (SSS), National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) and officers of the transport ministry in Lagos state was a forum for all the stake holders to proffer solutions to the mirage of problems involved in commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos state.
Mr. Perkis stated that commercial motorcycle is a means of transportation that should be properly recognized and sanitized by the government.
“Commercial motorcycle operations evolved as a child of necessity due to the unbearable level of unemployment in the country. From the mid 80s, okada business provided answers by becoming the source of income of over five million Nigerians, also okada came to the rescue of artisan graduates WHO have NO INCOME TO ESTABLISH A WORKSHOP,
Also during the economic recession and it attendant retrenchment, okada also came to the rescue of the teeming unemployed” Mr. Perkis said.
Mr. Perkis blames the poor state of the roads in the country, and the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos state for the upsurge in residents’ need to patronize commercial motorcycle as a means of transportation
“Before it is “heavy hold –up”, now it is complete stand still on our roads; many man hours are lost in such traffic ,lives are lost and people resorted to using okada to ease their plight on the road”Mr. Perkis said .
In proffering solutions to the challenges in commercial motorcycle operation in the state, the stakeholders call on the government to enforce stricter penalties on traffic defaulters.
“There should be a total ban on all unrecognized okada associations in Lagos as too many mushroom associations are springing up and they are the ones causing problems. Also there should be the introduction of uniform reflectors in the name of the unions, stricter enforcement of riders’ card and the inculcation of training,
the compulsory registration of every riders into parks or unit for easy identification; we submit that it is no solution to throw away the baby with the bath water as this will result to unemployment and upsurge in crime in the state. As a result, we are ready to work with the government to ensure that okada operations become safe for all but if the government insist on banning okada, then they should be ready to provide alternatives for the riders ” Mr. Perkis said.
The stake holders also call on the government to introduce compulsory accident insurance for passengers and riders, as a means of reducing the heavy medical cost from okada accidents and cooperation in setting up a joint task force with the Ministry of transportation to flush out non members.
Reacting to the purported ban in commercial motorcycle operation in the state, Remi Thomas, the Director of Transport and Operations in the Lagos state ministry of Transportation who represented the commisoner for transportation, said the government is ready to work with commercial motorcycle riders through a joint task force.
“The government has held series of meetings with the okada riders and our aim is to make okada operations safe for all, we will support you if you obey the law.”Mr. Thomas said.
In order to curb the menace of commercial motorcycle riders in the state, the Lagos state government last week began a clamp down on motorcycle riders plying the high way, with over 1000 defaulters arrested.
Also, Governor Babtubde Raji Fashola recently arrested five commercial motorcycle riders for riding against traffic on the one way route.
The governor blames commercial motorcycle riders for the upsurge in crime in the state and the frequent accidents on the highway and as a way to check okada menace, the governor also reconstituted a security committee to curb the recklessness of the okada riders in the state.
The two recognized commercial motorcycle associations in Lagos state are the Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS) and the Motorcycle Riders and OwnersAssociation (ANACOWA)
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