News
Gov Sule convenes emergency security meeting over kidnappings in Nasarawa
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has called for an emergency security council meeting to address the rising cases of kidnappings and other security challenges in the state.
The meeting, which took place at the Government House on Monday, was convened in response to the escalation of security threats, including kidnappings and activities of ethnic militia groups, particularly in areas such as Keffi, Doma, Lafia, Awe, Obi, Keana, Karu, and Nasarawa Local Government Areas.
During his opening remarks at the meeting, Governor Sule expressed concern over the increase in kidnappings and militia activities, pointing out incidents in villages around Shegye, Katakpa, and other areas in Toto Local Government Area of the state.
The governor also mentioned disputes within communities, such as the recent incident in the Udege area where a person was killed due to intra-ethnic conflicts.
“The purpose of the meeting has to do with the security situation that we have seen, especially during my absence, when certain issues were escalated.
“It’s indeed a point of worry that we continue to see an increase in the number of kidnappings, especially in Keffi, Doma, Lafia, Awe, Obi, Keana, Karu and Nasarawa Local Government Areas of the state.
“We have also seen an increase in the activities of the militia terrorizing innocent people, especially in areas surrounding Shegye, Katakpa, and some other villages in Toto Local Government Area.
“We have, on the other hand, seen some increase in the dispute, especially between communities similar to the one we have seen in Udege area, where a person was killed as a result of misunderstanding within the same ethnic group,” Sule stated.
He mentioned that recent discussions with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in Lagos and security chiefs in Abuja necessitated the emergency meeting, stating the need to address the activities of the Bassa militia group, which had been operating under the guise of the Bassa Vigilante Group.
The governor announced plans to ban all single ethnic group vigilante groups in the state, including the Fulani Vigilante Group that has been active since 2009.
He stated that members of these groups would be given a grace period to join existing community vigilante groups.
“One of the discussions that we are going to have today is to consider the banning of any single ethnic group vigilante that is operating in the state.
“Any particular ethnic group establishing a vigilante will be banned.
“By the time we take the decision about banning single ethnic group vigilante, especially the Bassa vigilante group, then we will work towards ensuring we want peace in the state.
“We will give them a period of roughly one to two weeks to return their uniforms to us so that we can ensure they are disbanded.
“We will also ensure they are willing to abide by the system in the state and the policies of the government,” Sule added.
The Governor commended his deputy, Emmanuel Akabe, for holding the fort during his absence on the Lesser Hajj to Saudi Arabia and thanked all those who supported his deputy, including traditional rulers and security agencies.
He also appreciated the efforts of the security agencies in mitigating security challenges in the state, particularly in addressing recent crises between farmers and herders, such as the clash between the Eggon and Tiv communities in Kadarko, where five people were killed.
He said, “We are also aware of the crisis between farmers and herders recently, especially between the Eggon and Tiv community in Kadarko, where five people were killed. We will also discuss this today with a view to finding a way forward.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) says it has sealed off the Idera market in the Oshodi metropolis.
In a statement on Thursday, Ajayi Lukman, LAGESC spokesperson, said the agency sealed the market due to unhygienic practices and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, which contravened the environmental law of the state.
He said the measure was taken to enforce adherence to environmental cleanliness across registered markets in the state.
‘‘Our operatives stationed across the Oshodi division during routine market monitoring identified the filth, unhygienic practices, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse around the Idera Market area, which prompted us to seal off the market until further notice,” the statement reads.
Lukman quoted Olaniyi Cole, the corps marshal of the agency, as decrying the level of hygiene at the market, which could lead to an outbreak of diseases.
He said Cole frowned at the inability of the market leadership to provide a valid waste collection contract, which resulted in the heaps of refuse in the facility.
He added that the display of wares for sale on road setbacks, lay-bys, medians, verges, kerbs, street trading, and hawking remained banned in the metropolis.
The LAGESC corps marshal reiterated the ban on the sales, distribution, and usage of styrofoam in the state, noting that anyone found culpable would be punished decisively.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Hours to the Edo State governorship election, the guber candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP)Amb Osalumese Areloegbe on Thursday morning collapsed the structure for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie Esq.
Addressing journalists at the party secretariat in Benin City, Areloegbe said his decision to collapse the structure for the PDP candidate was because he believed that Ighodalo had all it would take to govern the state to greater heights.
According to him, I urged all my followers and supporters to disregard any information that I have aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“I am supporting Asue Ighodalo because he is competent, not that I am not competent but I believe Asue is on the forefront. That is my reason for supporting his candidacy.
“My party is aware because they have been having a series of negotiations for us to align with the APC, and I told them categorically that I am supporting PDP. My eighteen local government followers are in full support of my decision, I mean 100 per cent supporting the PDP candidate, Barr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie in this election.
“My choice for Asue Ighodalo is because, apart from myself, I see him as the next better candidate that I can support and I can put my weight on because he has the capacity, mentally, physically and otherwise to pilot the affairs of Edo State to greater heights.
“The national secretariat of my party, APP – they are in Abuja and I am in the state, and know much more of what is happening in Edo State. They are not here and don’t know what is going on here in Edo. And I am in a position to tell them what will be better for the Edo people.
“There is a parable that says, ‘You cannot shave a man’s head when he is not present’. I am here in Edo State and I know who to support and why I am supporting him. The national leadership might have taken a different tone, but this is what I and my followers have chosen.
“We had a series of other politicians who had made such decisions before. That is why I agreed with the support of my supporters to collapse my structure for the governorship candidate of the PDP Barr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A resident of Ifetedo in Osun State, simply identified as Idowu, had reportedly died in an incident of collapse building that occurred in the town.
The collapsed structure was said to be a dilapidated building that suddenly caved in and killed the woman.
A resident of Ifetedo, simply identified as Ogunyemi, while speaking to The PUNCH on Thursday, said operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, responding to a distress call, were at the scene of the incident.
Some NSCDC operatives rushed to the scene after they were informed of the incident. They were joined by some other people in the community.
Idowu was the only person in the building when the incident happened. She was brought out dead from the rubble.
“The incident caused panic in Omiloode Area, where the building is located. The building that collapsed is a dilapidated structure,” Ogunyemi said.
Osun NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Kehind Adeleke, when contacted confirmed the incident, adding that the scene was immediately cordoned off by security men.
“An abandoned dilapidated building located along Omiloode Street, Ifetedo collapsed and killed one Mrs Idowu, who was said to be around the structure when the incident happened.
“The tragic incident occurred at about 17:30 hours on Tuesday.
“Officers and men of NSCDC Ife South Division, upon getting information rushed to the scene of the incident for rescue operation. But unfortunately, the woman had passed on. She was brought out of the rubble dead. The site was immediately cordoned off,” Adeleke said.
LASG shuts down Idera market over ‘environmental pollution
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