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Save us from hoodlums who operate as beggars in the day, robbers at night – Lekki, Ajah residents beg Sanwoolu

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HOODLUMS

 

Tunde was mugged by a three-man gang in broad day light. It was Saturday morning, and as usual, Tunde was doing his normal early morning walk. At first, he thought the boys were the usual beggars that have become part of everyday living in the Ajah area.

“I was on my usual early Saturday morning walk along the Admiralty Way when these boys walked up to me. At first, I thought they were beggars, but one of them just pulled his shirt up and I saw a shot gun tucked into his trousers. I froze immediately and thought I would be killed,” Tunde explained his encounter with muggers.

He was lucky to tell his story, but parted with his expensive Apple watch, a Samsung phone, some cash and an ATM card he was carrying with him. By afternoon of the same day, his account had been depleted to the tune of N300, 000.

Tunde is not the only one with such ugly experience. Chucks, who lives in the Jakande area of Lekki area, needed weeks of therapy after his traumtic encounter with traffic robbers. He was on his way home from work, tired and hungry. But the traffic was not helping matters, as vehicles were restricted bumper to bumper. “I was tired and very hungry on this particular day. The only thing on my mind was how to get home and eat. Traffic was terrible and hostile. I was suddenly jolted by a loud noise on the car window.”

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Chucks said he was scared but relunctant to wind down his car glass. Within the few seconds, several things raced through his mind. Then he remembered his wife, his little son and of course, his aged parents. “As all those thing played out in my mind, I simply melted and rolled down the glass. It was at that point that I realised that I was not the only person the guys robbed on that particualr night. They did their job and left just as they appear without any hinderance.”

Again, by the time the robbers left, Chucks and several of the motorists have been dispossed of their valuables. Unfortunately, experiences like these have become an almost everyday affair. A resident who pleaded anonimity for fear of retribution, listed the areas most affected to include Admiralty Way, Freedom Way, Jakande, Chevron, Ajah and Agungi among others.

The resident lamented the incursion into the area of many strange faces, who he claimed operate as beggars in the day and turn robbers at night. He and several other residents are surprised over the sudden turn of events in the once peaceful and serene neighbourhoods.

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“It is indeed a big surprise that Lekki could turn to what we are experiencing these days. In the past, the mention of Lekki speaks volume about affluence. But all those have changed. Sometimes, when you walk round, you could mistake Lekki for Mushin or Shomolu. Everywhere you go, you see these hoodlums everywhere.”

The residents are calling on the police and Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to come to their rescue. They are unanimous in their cry to government to evacuate all the destitutes from the area and ensure that enough policemen are posted there to maintain law and order.

“I really dont know why it is difficult for government to evacuate these hoodlums from these areas. The government simply nned to put in place a law prohibiting begging on the streets and peace will return. These boys hide under the guise of begging during the day. But at night, they rob the people at will,” another resident said.

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A resident, Abimbola Iyiola said: ‘’From Jakande around Shoprite, Mobil axis, Igboefon and VGC, these hoodlums who pretend to be beggars in the day cluster, but they are criminals in the night and some of them have been caught or sighted robbing innocent residents.

“The situation was not like this during Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration and it is worrisome that security laxity is what these urchins are leveraging to make life unbearable for residents.’’

A former councilor in the area who spoke in confidence, urged police authorities and other law enforcement agencies to embark on constant surveillance and patrol in order to flush out the hoodlums.

He said: “Police and other minions of law should step up surveillance ad patrol of these neighbourhoods in order to put a check on these hoodlums and chase them away from our communities.’’

 

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Woman jumps into Lagos lagoon, rescued by boat operators

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A yet-to-be-identified woman has been rescued after reportedly jumping into the lagoon from the Idumota end of the Carter Bridge in Lagos state.

The incident, which reportedly drew the attention of passersby and local boat operators, occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses, nearby boat operators responded and brought the woman back to safety.

video circulating on social media showed the woman, seated in a rescue boat shortly after she was brought out of the water.

The footage, shared on X by a user identified as CHUKS, also showed people gathered on the bridge expressing concern about the woman’s condition.

Some bystanders could be heard appealing to the boat operators to ensure that she received appropriate care.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm the woman’s identity and condition.

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Police seize truck-load of fake drug warehouses in Lagos, arrest two

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The Lagos State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered two warehouses allegedly used for repackaging counterfeit pharmaceutical products and arrested two suspected members of a syndicate involved in the interstate and cross-border distribution of fake drugs.

Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command,  disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen at the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit in the Ijora Olopa area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation by detectives attached to the unit.

The police boss said the suspects were apprehended at a warehouse located at Number 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were allegedly repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to various parts of Nigeria.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of the syndicate.

According to the police commissioner, “The suspects, Eze Okwudilichukwu ‘m’ 52 years, and Chukwudi Mba ‘m’ 42 years, were arrested at their warehouse located at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were found repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to different parts of Nigeria.

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“Following their arrest and interrogation, the suspects led detectives to another warehouse, where a duly executed search warrant was carried out. During the search, a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products, bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina), was recovered alongside other exhibits.”

The police boss said items recovered during the operation included about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole; six bags containing unpackaged suspected adulterated Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, Piriton, and other pharmaceutical products; and about 10 cartons of suspected adulterated Ampiclox, Viagra, and other drugs.

The CP noted that more than 300 empty printed packs and cartons were used to repackage counterfeit medicines.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had been involved in the repackaging and distribution of suspected adulterated drugs for over two years.

He added that detectives uncovered evidence suggesting that the products were supplied to different parts of Nigeria, while large consignments were also destined for Lomé, Togo, indicating the existence of a transnational distribution network.

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“The investigation also suggests that the suspected adulterated drugs are being manufactured somewhere within Lagos State.

“While the production facility has not yet been located, detectives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the factory, arrest all those connected with the operation, and bring them to justice,” Fatai said.

The commissioner also alleged that attempts were made to compromise the investigation after the suspects were arrested.

“It is pertinent to state that since the arrest of the suspects, desperate attempts have been made through different channels to induce officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit to release both the suspects and the recovered exhibits.

“I wish to categorically state that these attempts were firmly resisted. The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, integrity, and the rule of law, and no amount of pressure or inducement will derail the course of justice,” he added.

Tijani said the suspects, recovered exhibits, and case file had been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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He explained that the handover was necessary because the case falls within the regulatory mandate of the agency.

The CP commended operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for what he described as a professional and intelligence-driven operation while urging members of the public to provide useful information on the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and other criminal activities.

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NDLEA uncovers cocaine hidden in wooden mortar, backpack bound for China, Italy

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered fresh attempts by drug syndicates to export cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar and a specially modified backpack destined for China and Italy.

This was contained in a statement released by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and shared on X on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, one of the consignments involved cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar, a local tool commonly used for pounding yam and grains, which was being shipped to China.

The agency added that another cocaine shipment destined for Italy was discovered concealed in the false bottom of a backpack hidden among lace materials.

He wrote, “Mortar is a traditional local wooden tool commonly used for pounding yams or grains but was used to conceal cocaine consignment heading to China in one of the latest seizures by #ndlea_nigeria officers who also discovered another shipment of cocaine going to Italy in the false bottom of a backpack hidden in lace materials.

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“Beware of every parcel you’re given to deliver. Remember the key word for liability is possession!”

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