Metro News

Five killed, several injured in Lagos, Ogun land grabbers’ attacks

Published

3 years ago

August 24, 2021

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No fewer than five persons were killed and many others injured on Saturday when hoodlums attacked the Igbokuta/Gberigbe community, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Accoding to reports, the hoodlums, who were suspected to be land grabbers, invaded the community around 1pm and attacked the land owners in the area with weapons.

According to the residents, the hoodlums, who were led by one Sir K and one Gbenga, stormed the community and attacked their perceived enemies.

The deceased were identified as Lateef Ade, Mutiu Balogun, Hameed Idris and two others.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident happened after two suspected fake policemen placed in the community by Sir K were arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

He said, “Two fake policemen, who were impersonating the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, were among 15 people illegally stationed in the community since May 19, 2021, by Sir K.

READ Misjudged: Mentally-ill woman wrongfully accused of baby theft, gun possession lynched in Lagos

“However, the fake policemen were arrested and this was what led to the Saturday attack. The Sir K gang members were angry that the policemen were arrested; the attack, which led to the death of five people, was part of a reprisal by the gang.”

A community leader, Chief Akorede Oluderu, lamented incessant attacks by the gang on residents and called on the police to intervene.

He said, “We no longer sleep with our two eyes closed due to the attacks on this community by the notorious land grabbers. We are calling on the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to look into our ordeal and save us from these thugs. Many lives have been lost, yet the police have done nothing to bring the situation under control.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, did not pick his phone which rang out several times.

He did not also reply to a text message sent to his phone as of the time of filing this report.

READ Imo illegal refinery explosion: 109 bodies recovered, others still missing

In a related development, two persons were injured on Saturday when some hoodlums suspected to be land grabbers invaded Obada-Oko community in Ogun State.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, who were armed with machetes, broken bottles and other weapons, stormed the community around 12pm.

A resident, Sikiru Kayode, was attacked with machetes and left for dead.

A witness, Taoheed Agbaje, said over 100 hoodlums attacked the community.

He said, “I have never witnessed anything like that in this area. There were about 50 motorcycles with each carrying at least three people; many of them were armed with cutlasses, broken bottles, sticks and iron rods. A pregnant woman fainted when she sighted them; she was revived by residents who quickly gathered around her.

“The hoodlums attacked Sikiru Kayode with machetes, iron and sticks, while other people ran for their lives. The hoodlums later escaped on their motorcycles when they noticed that Kayode was motionless, thinking that he was dead. But he survived.”

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The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said investigation was ongoing.

He said, “There are some people who claim to be land agents and said they had a court judgment concerning a portion of land in the community, but the other party who are in the community said the judgment that the land agents have does not cover their own portion of land and that was led to the problem.

“The land agents were the ones that went to the Obada-Oko Police Station to report that they were attacked and two of their boys were injured and taken to the state hospital in Ijaye, but the CP has directed the SCIID to go into the matter and investigate the case. We will hear the two sides of the story and whoever is at fault will be charged to court.”

Metro News

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

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

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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 Emefiele ‘printed N684.5m notes with N18.9bn’, says EFCC in fresh charge

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

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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 Lagos stands still for Tinubu/Shettima

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

2 days ago

April 29, 2024

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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.

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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 Imo illegal refinery explosion: 109 bodies recovered, others still missing

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 Lagos stands still for Tinubu/Shettima

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.