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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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Cross-River workers embark on warning strike over non-implementation of minimum wage

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Civil servants in Cross River state have commenced a strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had slated November 25 and 26 for the warning strike.

They warned that the industrial action would be followed by a total strike should the government fail to do the needful before December 1.

Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River, appealed to the unions to shelve the plan and “support the government in its quest to improve the lot of our people”.

The governor made the appeal at the 5th edition of the state solemn assembly at U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Otu said his administration is committed to the welfare of workers.

“I appeal to the leadership of organised labour and all affiliates of the NLC and TUC to suspend their planned strike,” he had said.

“I enjoin them to support the government in the quest to improve the lot of our people.”

On July 29, 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law. The legislation increased the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

On November 11, NLC announced November 30 as the deadline for all state governments to implement the new minimum wage.

The union ordered its members to embark on an indefinite strike in states where the new minimum wage is yet to be implemented.

However, several states have begun implementation of the new wage.

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Driver escapes death as 40ft container falls on car in Lagos

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A yet-to-be-identified driver luckily escaped death on Monday morning when a 40-foot-laden container fell onto a Toyota Camry, with registration number LSR 293 HJ, at Mile 2, en route to Apapa Ports, Lagos.

The accident, according to an eyewitness, happened at about 8 a.m.

Fortunately, the driver of the car was rescued by the prompt intervention and coordinated response of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency services, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The victim received immediate medical attention after being rushed to the hospital by the joint rescue team.

Security during the operation was effectively maintained by officers from the Kirikiri Police Division, who ensured a secure and orderly environment for the emergency responders.

Following the rescue, the Toyota Camry was successfully removed from beneath the container.

As of 9.30 am, efforts to evacuate the fallen container were in full swing, while LASTMA officers managed the scene to ease traffic congestion and restore normalcy.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated the critical importance of proper container securing by truck drivers and owners.

He stressed that negligence in this regard endangers lives and property, urging strict compliance with road safety protocols to avert such catastrophic occurrences.

“LASTMA remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Lagos roadways and continues to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to uphold traffic laws and enhance public safety,” Bakare-Oki stated.

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Lagos state government removes illegal shop extensions blocking drainage channels in Lagos Island

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The Lagos State government has cleared illegal shop extensions obstructing drainage systems and a government-provided water tap in Lagos Island.

The exercise was conducted by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), led by its General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Adu Ademuyiwa, Director of Public Affairs at LASBCA, via the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday.

The enforcement operation focused on Idi-Oluwo Street, where shop extensions had blocked critical drainage channels and access to potable water, leaving the community without essential resources.

Arc. Gbolahan Oki highlighted the adverse impacts of these illegal structures on residents, noting that several shop owners had constructed extensions over public drains and a government-provided water tap, causing significant disruptions to the area.

“In a proactive effort to ensure public safety, orderliness, and the smooth flow of traffic, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has taken decisive action by removing illegal shop extensions obstructing drainage systems and community water supplies along Idi-Oluwo Street, Lagos Island.

“Leading the LASBCA Enforcement Team, the General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, highlighted the adverse impacts of these illegal structures on residents. He noted that several shop owners had built extensions over public drains and water tap, causing significant disruptions,” the statement read in part.

The statement revealed that one of the removed extensions had blocked access to a government-provided water tap, cutting off the entire community’s supply of potable water. The swift removal of these illegal structures restored water access to the affected area.

Arc. Gbolahan Oki emphasized the need for residents to respect public infrastructure and take collective responsibility for preserving community resources.

Furthermore, the statement noted that Arc. Gbolahan Oki issued a one-week ultimatum to traders at Idi-Oluwo, directing them to address the identified violations or face stringent legal consequences.

At Mankanra Market, the LASBCA team uncovered several environmental infractions, including shanties obstructing walkways, which compromised the market’s functionality and safety.

Additionally, the statement highlighted that Hon. Princess Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon, representing Lagos Island Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, praised LASBCA’s proactive efforts.

She urged market leaders to ensure their members adhere to state regulations on sanitation and structural integrity, warning that defaulters would face penalties as prescribed by law.

The LASBCA team also visited Bombata Market, where Arc. Oki advised market leaders to prioritize cleanliness and foster an orderly trading environment.

He assured them of a follow-up inspection within three months to confirm compliance with required standards and maintain the improvements.

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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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