The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) says it has rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana.

A statement on Friday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM spokesperson, said this brings the total number of girls repatriated to the country over the past five months to 163.

Balogun said the girls were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment, but were later forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy.

He said the girls are aged between 19 to 30, and from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states.

Balogun said the rescue operation was as a result of the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian anti-human trafficking police, the Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana.

The girls were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.

Speaking on the latest efforts, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chair of NIDCOM, reiterated the commission’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora.

Akinboye Akinsola, NiDCOM representative, who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, said these set of ladies surrendered themselves willingly, having heard of the earlier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.

Valentine Okike Uzo, senior special assistant to governor of Ebonyi state, said efforts are in place to ensure a proper rehabilitation for victims from the state.

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) says its officials have demolished 138 shanties illegally erected along Ajao estate canal.

Tokunbo Wahab, commissioner for environment and water resources in Lagos, announced the development in a post on his X page on Friday.

“In continuation of concerted measures to reduce the scourge of environmental infractions and illegal encampment in public spaces, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Thursday demolished 138 shanties around the canal bank in Ajao Estate Canal where illegal occupants pay between N60,000 to N100,000 rent,” Wahab wrote.

https://twitter.com/tokunbo_wahab/status/1857319887158313028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1857319887158313028%7Ctwgr%5E664593354c56dfeedfa4d39b2514f9b34d45a5a9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecable.ng%2Flagos-demolishes-138-shanties-where-occupants-pay-over-n60k-annually%2F

On Wednesday, Wahab said 94 persons were arrested during a midnight operation targeting rail track squatters and miscreants, in response to complaints from citizens.

The commissioner added that a locally fabricated gun, wraps of suspected Indian hemp, charms, and a jack-knife were seized from the suspects.

“In response to complaints from residents, commuters and concerned citizens on the nefarious activities of illegal squatters, miscreants and suspected criminal elements along rail-track corridors, the agency undertook a midnight raid along the rail-track between Pen-Cinema under-bridge up to Fagba Junction,” he wrote on X.

“The thorough operation commenced at about 0230hrs, covering over five kilometres in distance; shanties/illegal structures were removed.

“94 suspects were arrested during the midnight operation; a locally fabricated short gun and several wraps of illicit substance suspected to be Indian hemp, charm and a jack knife were recovered.

“The suspects will be charged to court accordingly.”

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has extended the time for Yahaya Bello, former Kogi governor, to respond to the public summons issued against him.

On October 3, Maryanne Anenih, presiding judge, ordered Bello to appear before the court on October 24 for arraignment on a 16-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello was however absent at the court session on October 24.

The court had then adjourned to November 14 for Bello to respond to the summons.

However, the former governor did not show up in court on Thursday.

Jamiu Agoro, counsel for the EFCC, said the order of the court issued on October 3 had not elapsed since the commission effected service on October 18.

Consequently, Agoro prayed the court for an adjournment and an extension of time for Bello to appear.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November 2024, my lord,” he said.

The EFCC also told the court that Bello’s co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, two officials of the Kogi state government, have been granted administrative bail.

Counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants confirmed the administrative bail of their clients. They also did not oppose the request for adjournment and extension of time.

After listening to all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and extension of time.

The judge also ordered that hearing notice should be served on Bello at his last known address and should be pasted on conspicuous places around the court.

The charge against the defendants borders on alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110,446,470,089, contrary to sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under section 312 of the same law.