Metro News

Residents cry out, as beggars, hoodlums back on Lekki-Ajah roads

Published

2 years ago

March 8, 2022

admin

Almost eight months after former Lagos Commissioner of Police, now retired AIG Hakeem Odumosu promised to rid the Lekki area of Lagos State of hoodlums and robbers masquerading as beggars, residents of the area have again pleaded with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to rescue them from the hoodlums.

It will be recalled that in August 2021, the former CP had vowed to go after the hoodlums. In a statement by the state PPRO, the former police boss in the state had said: “As concerned, dutiful and very responsible Police Officers saddled with the statutory responsibility of internal security, we are not oblivious of the apparent security challenges posed by miscreants masquerading as beggars in some parts of the country particularly in Lagos State.

“In view of the foregoing, the Command is urgently interfacing, and indeed working in tandem with the State Ministry of Youth and Social Development as well as other relevant authorities to solve this social malaise.

READ 2023: Atiku will waste your ticket, group tells PDP

“In reaction to the specific plight of the residents of Lekki and Ajah axis, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu whose primary concern is to provide robust security for the teeming people of Lagos State, has directed the Area Commander, DPOs, other field and tactical commanders to immediately embark on 24hrs stop and search and vehicular patrol of every nook and cranny of the affected axis and similar areas requiring additional police presence.”

But the people have said that there was no respite from the hoodlums, claiming that the hoodlums made a quick return to the roads soon after the vow by the police to chase them away.

A resident who pleaded anonimity for security reasons said: “The boys and these beggars are back in large numbers and more vicious than they were last year. Today, they storm the streets to harrass innocent motorists any time from 6pm. Their mode of operation is to come near your car in traffic. Sometimes, these beggars (aged between 4 and 14 years) spray your windscreen with soapy water without cleaning the screen to distract you and ask you to wind down your glass, so that the older ones can attack you. We all live in fear of these boys and street beggars everyday.”

READ BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses PDP, LP’s petition against APC, Sanwo-Olu

Another resident, who identified himself simply as Chucks, called on Governor Sanwo-olu who once live in lekki before becoming the Governor of the state,to act now and ensure that the Lekki-Ajah area is rid of the bad boys and beggars/miscreants. “I think the governor needs to act now. The people are already insuniating that he is keeping quiet because of his second term ambition, that he does not want to offend the area boys. Some are even saying that he not is doing anything to rescue the situation because of the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu. (Simply because of Northern support.)”I don’t really know how long we have to endure this pains when even states in the north are already evacuating beggars from their streets, while Lagos State Government is allowing them on the street of Lagos” Chucks lamemted.

Supporting this claim, another resident said there is a need for the State government and the police to act quickly before beggars and hoodlums take over the entire Lekki-Ajah axis. According to her, residents live in fear of attacks on the roads by the hoodlums and beggars. “They are no respecter of anybody. In traffic, your heart skips anytime you see them. And to make matters worse, they don’t show any fear as they move from one vehicle to another with their vicious looks and threats. Please, help to call on the police and the Lagos State government to come to our rescue.”

READ 2023: Tinubu to speak on manifesto at Chatham House December 5

Metro News

14-year-old Nigerian, Daniel Anjorin killed in London sword attack

Published

10 hours ago

May 1, 2024

admin

The teenage boy killed in the Hainault sword attack in north-east London has been identified as 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin.

Police said Anjorin died from stab wounds shortly after being taken to hospital on Tuesday.

He was the only casualty in the attack that left four other people, including two police officers, injured.

The suspect, 36, was cornered and overpowered with a Taser by officers in Thurlow Gardens.

Police were called to reports of a car crashing into a house and people being stabbed in Hainault, north-east London.

James Fernando, a witness, told the BBC that he saw the suspect asked one of his neighbours to take his phone and “tell whoever was on the phone his location”.

Fernando said the neighbour soon noticed the sword and started running.

“As she fled, the woman shouted to another neighbour, a boy on his way to school, who was then struck by the attacker as he turned around,” he said.

READ Robbers attack bizman in Ogun, escape with $11m cash

Anjorin attended Bancroft’s, the same school where Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a stabbing victim in Nottingham, was also a student.

Holy Family Catholic School where the boy’s mother works, issued a statement naming her Mrs Anjorin and called for prayers for the family.Police said the suspect is in hospital being treated for injuries sustained when the vehicle he was in crashed into the house.The police said the suspect would be taken in for questioning immediately after he has some respite, adding that Anjorin’s family are being supported by specially trained staff.

Metro News

Gas explosion rocks Lagos community

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2024

admin

One yet-to-be-identified pregnant woman and eight others have sustained varying degrees of injuries following a gas explosion that occurred at Alaba Lane, Alayabiagba Community, in the Ajegunle-Apapa area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 12:39 p.m.

Confirming the incident, the Head, Public Education, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Amodu Shakiru, stated that preliminary inquiry revealed that a number of different gas cylinders that were traded in the area had one that was set off by a possible leak that broke a high-tension cable and started a fire.

He added that the fire destroyed four commercial tricycles, six lock-up stores, and a portion of a bungalow building.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that a number of various gas cylinders traded within the neighborhood have one triggered by a suspectable leakage leading to the snapping of a high-tension cable and resultant fire.

“Four commercial tricycles, six lock-up shops, and a bungalow part of the properties were razed down while salvaging adjoining structures, including a major fuel service station.

READ Commissioner, unidentified woman found dead in Guest House

He stated that the Federal Fire Service, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the fire stations in Ajegunle and Sari-Iganmu quickly contained the incident.

Shakiru noted that the pregnant woman and the other victims are currently receiving treatment at the Gbagada Burn & Trauma Center and Ajeromi General Hospital following initial care provided by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

“However, nine people reportedly suffered different degrees of burn injury, including a pregnant woman, children, and adults, male and female, who are recuperating at the Ajeromi General Hospital and Gbagada Burnt & Trauma Centre after some first aid by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

“The incident was curtailed in record time through the combined efforts of the Ajegunle and Sari-Iganmu Fire Stations of the LSFRS with the compliment of the Federal Fire Service.”

Emefiele collected $600k kickback in cash from contractors, former CBN director tells court

Published

3 days ago

April 29, 2024

admin

John Ikechukwu Ayoh, a former director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has testified against Godwin Emefiele, ex-governor of the apex bank, in the ongoing case of abuse of office at the Lagos high court.

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are currently facing trial on a 26-count charge.

The former CBN governor and Omoile pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

At the court proceedings on Monday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented Ayoh as the second witness in the case against Emefiele.

Ayoh told the court that he worked at the apex bank from June 2014 to April 2019 noting that he did not work directly under Emefiele.

Ayoh added that he used to report to Adebayo Adelabu, a former deputy governor of CBN, who is now the minister of power.

The witness said he was the head of procurement and support services (PSS) of the apex bank, which was vested with powers to receive bids and select successful bidders.

READ Drug traffickers now consult native doctors before operation — Marwa

The former CBN director said he collected money from contractors as gratification of awarding contracts to them based on the instruction from Emefiele.

The witness said Emefiele usually sends his personal assistant (PA) — John Adetona — to collect the contractors’ kickback from him.

Ayoh said he collected $400,000 and $200,000 in cash from contractors on two different occasions and handed them over to Emefiele’s PA.

“The first transaction was $400,000 and the second one was $200,000 in cash. I was in my house when the first envelope was brought to me. His assistant was asked to collect the money,” he told the court.

“One of the vendors had a contract with CBN which involved the implementation of data storage and infrastructure.

“The first package was collected in my residence at Lekki phase one, while the second package was collected at the head office in Lagos.”

READ BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses PDP, LP’s petition against APC, Sanwo-Olu

During cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo, counsel to Emefiele, Ayoh said he was under duress from the former CBN to accept gratifications on his behalf.

“No, I was under duress from my boss (referring to Emefiele). We were faced with tremendous pressure to bend the rule,” the witness said when asked about aiding the commission of a crime by collecting the money.

Asked if he indicated in his statement with the EFCC that the money was meant to influence the award of contracts, the witness said some parts of his statement implied that.

“Who told you that it (the money) is for gratification,” Emefiele’s counsel asked.

“The cash is for gratification to the governor for awarding the contracts. He (Emefiele) asked for it. He won’t approve the contract without gratification,” the witness said.

On whether he was arrested by the EFCC, the witness said the anti-graft agency invited him and was granted bail afterwards.

READ 2023: Tinubu to speak on manifesto at Chatham House December 5

Emefiele’s counsel told the court that the witness must have traded being charged by the EFCC to become a witness against the former CBN boss.

INTERIM BAIL

After the cross-examination of the witness, Emefiele’s counsel sought a fresh interim bail for the former CBN governor, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions earlier stipulated by the court.

Ojo told the court that the initial interim bail granted to Emefiele ended today (Monday), adding that the defence team has not been able to meet the bail conditions.

He urged the court to grant Emefiele another interim bail that would end on May 17.

Rahman Oshodi, the presiding judge, granted the request and ordered that Ojo swear to an affidavit to provide Emefiele in the next adjourned date.

Oshodi adjourned to May 3, 9, and 17 for the continuation of the trial.