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Nigerian Customs Kill Pregnant Woman, Schoolgirl, Motorcyclist

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The Officials of Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) yesterday allegedly shot dead a Pregnant-Woman, a Female Secondary School Girl and a Commercial Motorcycle Rider, while chasing rice smugglers at Kola, Agbado Ijaiye area of Lagos State. Telegraph Reports

Witnesses said the Customs officials were chasing a commercial bus carrying bags of rice. It was learnt that after apprehending the supposedly smugglers, the Customs officials attempted to impound the vehicle and seized the bags of rice.

However, the suspected smugglers resisted the attempt which made the NCS officials to start shooting. In the process, stray bullets hit the three victims at different locations in the area. The incident, which occurred about 8a.m., was said to have caused panic among the residents of the area.

The motorcycle rider, Saheed Omotosho, was taking his motorcycle from the riders’ park when the stray bullet hit him in the chest.

The killings sparked a spontaneous protest by commercial bus drivers and motorcyclists before they were dispersed by a team of policemen from Alakuko police station. The incident also caused gridlock on both sides of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as the protesters impeded free movement of vehicles.

The protesters also made bonfire at Moshalashi bus stop to register their grievance over the gruesome murder of their colleague. Our correspondent also learnt that the other two victims of the shooting spree by the Customs officials were an unidentified secondary school student and a pregnant woman.

A resident of the area, who identified himself simply as Ademola, said the commercial bus was coming from Sango-Ota in Ogun State with many bags of rice when the NCS officials started chasing it.

He said:

“It appeared that the driver refused to stop for the Customs officials and they chased him to Moshalashi area where they started shooting sporadically.

I was inside my shop when I heard sounds of gunshots and everybody started running in different directions.”

The road was full of many people, mostly women, who were trying to take their children from school.

“I only saw the Okada rider (motorcyclist) after the stray bullet from Customs officials hit him. But the other two people, a pregnant woman and a secondary schoolgirl, were also hit by stray bullets on Ogunmola Street.”

Ademola said that the Customs officials also shot repeatedly to prevent policemen, who were drafted to the scene, from arresting them.

According to him, the NCS officials fled while still shooting. Some residents of the area urged Lagos and the Ogun State governments to find a lasting solution to the menace of Customs officers in the area. The Chairman of the motorcycle riders, Mr. Kazeem Adekunle, accused the Customs officials of abandoning the border to man an illegal checkpoint between Sango Toll Gate and Awori U-turn.

He said:

“This is not the first time such incident had occurred in this area. The Customs officials cannot be chasing smugglers from Idiroko into communities, because they were at the border posts when the goods were coming into the country.”

One of the motorcyclist’s friends, who did not want his name in print, described Omotosho’s death as very unfortunate.

He said:

“We were all at our park when we saw the Customs officials chasing the commercial bus. Immediately we saw the manner the Customs were shooting, we ran away. But the deceased went to the park to pick his motorcycle and the stray bullet hit him.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident. She said:

“In the early hours of today (yesterday) about 7:00am some Customs officials were on the trail of a vehicle. They started shooting. In the process, one passer-by was shot dead.

The patrol team, led by the DPO of Alakuko division, moved to the area to douse the tension. The Customs officials fired sporadically and escaped from the scene.”

Badmos said victim’s body was evacuated to the morgue while investigations had commenced into the matter.

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IGP directs police officers to wear black bands in honour of Taoreed Lagbaja

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Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, has directed officers to wear black bands in honour of Taoreed Lagbaja, the late chief of army staff (COAS).

In a statement signed by Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, Egbetokun ordered personnel to wear the bands during the seven-day mourning period.

“This directive is to pay tribute and honour the late General who has shown gallantry, dedication, and passion for fighting violent crimes and insurgency in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“He was a great leader who deserves to be honoured by all means.”

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast in honour of Lagbaja.

Lagbaja died on Tuesday after battling an undisclosed ailment. He was 56-years-old.

He was appointed COAS by Tinubu on June 19, 2023.

Lagbaja enrolled into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987.

In September 1992, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th regular course.

He served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

Lagbaja also participated in various internal security operations, including operation ZAKI in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in south-east, and forest sanity in Kaduna and Niger.

The president has appointed Olufemi Oluyede as acting COAS.

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LASEPA seals off churches, hotels over noise pollution

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The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sealed off some establishments over alleged noise pollution.

The facilities sealed include churches, lounges, nightclubs, bars, and hotels in the Lagos metropolis.

In a statement on Wednesday, Babatunde Ajayi, the general manager of LASEPA, said the move was in line with the agency’s efforts to uphold environmental standards and safeguard public health.

“In a bid to address noise pollution and other environmental violations, LASEPA took action, closing down several establishments across different parts of the state,” Ajayi said.

He noted that the establishments were found guilty of breaching environmental regulations despite multiple warnings from LASEPA.

He reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance policy on regulatory non-compliance, saying “we will not permit disregard for our regulations”.

Ajayi said the enforcement drive focused on areas like Ogudu, Gbagada, Iyana Ejigbo, Isolo, Ajao Estate, Oshodi, Ilasamaja, and Okota.

He added that the sealed outfits include Honourable Lounge & Lodging, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of God, OMA Night Club and Lounge, and Bridge Spot Bar.

Others are Okiki Event Centre and Hall, Emota Paradise Hotel (Phase 2), CF Hotel & Suites, House 27 Hotel & Suites, Echo Spring Hotel, and Smile T Continental Hotel.

The LASEPA boss urged all businesses to recognise their environmental obligations and work alongside the state government to foster a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.

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Tinubu approves establishment of Teaching Hospital in Ondo

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The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a teaching hospital in Akure, Ondo State, to support the training of medical students at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate, to initiate the necessary arrangements for the establishment of the teaching hospital. Prof. Pate has since dispatched a team to Ondo State to assess the location.

Leading the team, Dr. Jimoh Olawole Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, inspected FUTA’s permanent site, designated for the hospital. Salaudeen also visited the Akure Annex of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), which will serve as a temporary site for the teaching hospital.

Speaking with reporters after the inspection, Dr. Salaudeen expressed optimism about the hospital’s potential to become operational soon, citing available facilities. “President Tinubu directed that Akure should have a federal teaching hospital,” Salaudeen stated. “We are here to coordinate with the state government and review the site options for establishing the teaching hospital.”

Salaudeen highlighted the urgency of the project, noting that FUTA has begun training medical students, who are now in their third year. “The state government has provided a temporary site, and we are pleased with the infrastructure at the permanent site, including an auditorium, health center, and classrooms,” he said.

He added, “Our goal is to identify equipment needs at the temporary site to create a model federal tertiary hospital that supports student training. The enthusiastic support from the community is encouraging and will facilitate a peaceful learning environment.”

Ondo State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, affirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the project, ensuring it aligns with the president’s vision. “We have drafted an MOU and laid groundwork for the medical students to complete their training on schedule,” Ajaka said.

FUTA’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, expressed relief, saying, “We’ve been concerned about where our medical students would complete their clinical studies. I’m thrilled that the federal government has stepped in to provide a solution.”

Prof. Oladiji also highlighted FUTA’s biomedical engineering department, which aims to contribute to the school of health sciences by producing essential medical equipment. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to training future health professionals and engineers who can innovate and support the healthcare sector,” she added.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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