News

Ban: Lagos Okada Riders Revolt, Kill Policeman, Injure DPO

Published

1 year ago

April 6, 2023

Eric

A yet-to-be-identified policeman was killed on Wednesday by rampaging motorcyclists protesting against the enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycle operations in the Cele-Ijesha area of Lagos State.

During the clash, according to The Punch, the motorcyclists also injured a Divisional Police Officer who was said to be part of the team enforcing the ban in the community.

During the enforcement around 11am on Wednesday, it was learnt that the policemen accosted a motorcyclist plying the Mile 2-Cele axis

In an attempt to seize the motorcycle, the motorcyclist resisted and other motorcyclists who witnessed the incident intervened to support their colleague and which resulted in a clash with the policemen.

An eyewitness, who did not want his name in print for security reasons, told The Punch that during the clash, one of the policemen attempted to use his gun to scare the motorcyclist and his colleagues away, adding that the motorcyclists overpowered the policeman and allegedly killed him.

The eyewitness said, “The policemen were trying to arrest one of the motorcycle riders shuttling the Cele-Ijesha and Mile 2 areas. It was while the motorcyclist was resisting arrest that other motorcyclists intervened and demanded the release of their colleague’s motorcycle.

“When the policemen refused and tried to drive the motorcyclists away, they refused to back down and stopped the policemen from leaving the spot. Then, one of the policemen tried to scare them away with his gun but they overpowered him and killed him.”

Another eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Dehinde, said the policemen hurriedly left the scene after realising that their colleague had been killed.

He said, “Immediately the policeman was killed, his colleagues who ran away called for reinforcement and by the time they returned, the motorcyclists had fled. They were also seen brandishing different weapons while leaving the scene of the clash.”

The clash caused tension in the area as commuters and traders scampered to safety to avoid being hurt.

Before the clash that resulted in the death of the policeman, it was learnt that a joint team of police and military personnel had, during a raid, seized motorcycles from motorcyclists operating in the area despite the ban on their activities.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, while reacting to the development, said two suspects had been arrested, adding that 41 motorcycles were impounded.

He said, “While enforcing the existing ban on the use of motorcycles in parts of Lagos State, policemen attached to the Isolo Division came under attack from motorcycle riders at Cele Bus-Stop, resulting in the death of an Inspector and serious injury of the Divisional Police Officer.

“Two suspects have been arrested while 41 motorcycles were impounded. The Lagos State Police Command will not be deterred from carrying out its mandate of enforcing duly established laws.

“Also, people should stop peddling fake news as no gun was snatched during the attack.

“Citizens are urged to remain law-abiding, as riders and passengers alike arrested on prohibited routes will face the law.

“Above all, any form of attack on policemen will no longer be tolerated.”

News

National Grid Collapses Again, Nigeria in Total Blackout

Published

16 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The electricity national grid has collapsed again throwing the entire country into total blackout.

Some electricity distribution companies (DisCos), on Monday, confirmed the fresh collapse of the national grid, resulting in loss of power supply to their customers.

The grid experienced a fresh shutdown, and generation fell to 64.70 megawatts at 2:42 am on Monday, which was confirmed by officials of some of the DisCos.

According to an earlier report, the latest data from the Independent System Operator showed that the grid was generating 266.50mw of electricity from Okpai, Geregu and Ibom power.

Confirming the collapse in a statement, Jos DisCo said: “The current outage being experienced within our franchise States is a result of loss of power supply from the national grid. The loss of power supply from the national grid occurred in the early hours at about 0242 hours today, Monday, 15th April 2024, hence the loss of power supply on all our feeders.”

The company’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Friday Adakole Elijah, expressed hope that the grid will be restored for normal power supply to its esteemed customers.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), also confirmed the collapse in a statement titled “NOTICE OF TOTAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE”.

“The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 2:41 am today, 15th April 2024.

“This resulted in the loss of supply to all our interface TCN stations. Consequently, we were unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.

“However, the situation is gradually being resolved as we received the supply at Awada TCN station, Onitsha, at 7:30 am.

“We are in constant communication with the relevant authorities awaiting the full restoration of supply by the National Control Centre, NCC, Oshogbo. Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation,”

A statement by Head, of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh said.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is yet to confirm the collapse as of press time.

News

Gunmen Abduct Channels TV Reporter in Rivers, Demand N30m

Published

4 days ago

April 12, 2024

Eric

Gunmen have kidnapped a journalist and reporter with Channels Television, Mr Joshua Rogers, at his residence in Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday night.

Rogers, who covers the Rivers State Government House for his organisation, was reportedly trailed after he closed from work to his residence.

The miscreants accosted him before he alighted from his car, pointed a gun at him and whisked him along with his vehicle off to an unknown destination at about 9 pm.

A source who said he doesn’t want his name mentioned said the reporter had earlier covered an event in Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state where Governor Siminalayi Fubara, inaugurated a Primary Healthcare Centre.

The facility was built and donated to the state by the PAMO Educational Foundation, founded by former Rivers governor, Dr Peter Odili, on Thursday.

The source said, “Yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by some unknown gunmen.

“We are appealing to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unhurt. He is just a journalist doing his job and not a moneybags. So I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.”

It was also gathered that the hoodlums had contacted his wife and demanded N30m as ransom before releasing him.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, for confirmation, were unsuccessful as she did not pick up several calls put across to her by The Punch.

Iringe-Koko has also yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of publication on Friday morning.

The Punch

News

Bobrisky Goes to Jail! Sentenced to Six months Term, with No Fine Option

Published

4 days ago

April 12, 2024

Eric

Cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without any option fine for abusing the Nigeria currency – naira.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in her sentence, said the judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.