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Drivers abandon 2nd Niger Bridge as armed robbers, kidnappers take over

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Uchenna Nebuwa, national president of Heavy Duty Drivers Association, has confirmed that members of the association and other drivers can no longer use the second Niger Bridge because of security concerns.

Nebuwa made the claim while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Onitsha, noting that criminals have truly taken over the route, including Obosi-Owerri axis of the road.

According to him, hoodlums, armed robbers and kidnappers now operate along the bridge.

“Drivers are afraid because there is no adequate security on the second Niger bridge, Federal Government should provide security to secure lives and property.

“Another worrisome one is the failed portions of Obosi-Owerri road, as our trucks fall on the road on daily basis, we have lost over N20 billion worth of vehicles and goods on that road.

“We are begging Federal Government to help us fix the failed portions of Obosi-Owerri road as this will encourage drivers to be using the second Niger bridge,” Nebuwa stated.

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Also speaking, the Chairman of Great Tippers Association of Nigeria, Anambra Chapter, Mr Chukwuemeka Olekpe, expressed concern about the security situation, saying armed robbers and kidnappers have scared them away from using the bridge.

On his part, a commercial bus driver, Paul Osakwe, who plies Asaba-Owerri road, said drivers avoid the area because the bridge has become lonely and insecure.

“The bridge is not secure, it’s too lonely, you can’t even try to use it at night, even you inside the bus will be scared, government should at least install light on the bridge, maybe that will help”, he said.

Mr Seyi Martins, the Engineer in charge of the bridge, attributed its low usage to the security challenges in the South-East, adding that their mandate was to construct the bridge and open it to ease traffic.

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After five days, body of missing Lagos drainage worker recovered

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After days of intensive search, the corpse of a drainage worker, who got trapped while clearing the debris that blocked a tunnel in the Onipanu area of Lagos State has been recovered.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, while confirming this in a statement on Friday, identified the deceased as 59-year-old Tajudeen Amololo.

 

The LASEMA boss in the statement said, “The victim identified as Mr. Tajudeen Amololo (age-59) has been recovered dead from the drainage and bagged by cobra team subsequently handed him over to LAMATA (Drainducks) with the Nigeria Police Force Ilupeju Division officials for adequate action.

“Recovery operation concluded while cobra team with the agency’s paramedic heading back to base.”

 

The sad incident happened on Monday while the victim was de-silting drainage in the community.

 

Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority employed a male adult who works for Drain Ducks.

READ  Gunmen kill policeman at Imo checkpoint, cut off manhood

 

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Depraved: Man arrested for raping four-year-old girl in Ekiti

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The Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended one Afolabi Ojo for allegedly raping a four-year-old pupil.

It was gathered that the mother of the young girl reported the incident at the NSCDC Command in Ado-Ekiti, where she informed officials that the assault took place on Olujoda Street. Subsequently, the suspect was arrested.

 

During questioning, the girl disclosed that the suspect had removed her underwear and sexually assaulted her late in April.

Additionally, the girl’s mother stated that her daughter had confided in her about the incident.

 

However, the suspect denied all allegations, claiming he was falsely accused.

 

The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, Tolu Afolabi, confirmed that a medical examination had been conducted on the girl.

Afolabi revealed that the medical report confirmed the rupture of the hymen of the young girl.

 

Furthermore, Afolabi stated that the command had initiated an investigation into the matter.

READ  Gunmen kill policeman at Imo checkpoint, cut off manhood

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Customs intercepts cryptocurrency machines, $1.2 million, 148 drones in Lagos

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The Murtala Muhammed International Airport command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its officers intercepted fake $1.2 million notes, 148 drones, and five cryptocurrency machines in Lagos.

Speaking on Thursday during the hand over of the seized items to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Charles Orbih, customs area commander, said the items were confiscated between January and April.

 

Orbih said the intercepted items were handed over to the appropriate authorities in Lagos as directed by Bashir Adeniyi, comptroller-general of customs.

 

“The command also handed over 148 pieces of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) also known as drones, 112 military hardware and accessories, two bulletproof helmets and two military vests to the 81 division of the Nigerian Army in Lagos,” NAN quoted Orbih as saying.

 

“The counterfeited foreign currencies were handed over to the EFCC’s assistant commander, Oguzi Moses.

 

“Also, the UAVs and other military hardware were handed over to the General Officer commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammad Usman.”

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He said the importers of the UAVs were unable to present an end-user certificate (EUC) from the office of the national security adviser (ONSA).

 

“Virtually all the drones were abandoned, while drones above 250 grams are to come with EUCs and whenever we ask for the certificate, they abandon the UAVs,” he added.

The area commander said the NCS generated N19 billion in revenue between January and April this year, adding that there was a 67 percent increase in collection when juxtaposed with 2023.

“In line with the NCS mandate of revenue collection, revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, trade facilitation and national security, the officers and men of the command under my watch remained resolute and dedicated in ensuring the blockage of revenue leakages,” he added.

“The command also ensured facilitation of legitimate trade through a combined effort, in compliance with the policy thrust of the comptroller-general of customs.

 

READ  Gunmen kill policeman at Imo checkpoint, cut off manhood

“The command generated N19 billion between January and April 2024. This represents 42 percent collection of the annual revenue target given to the command for the year 2024 and 67 percent increase in collection against the preceding year of 2023.

 

“In our continued effort to block revenue leakages, the command made some seizures and detention of the following items — precious stones such as zinc, lithium, copper stones/sand, 120 pieces of SIM cards.

 

“The command seized four drones with a duty paid value of N7.8 million; one wooden giraffe statue and five bulletproof jackets with a DPV of N1.25 million.”

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